Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll are set to receive an official apology from the PGA of America following the shocking treatment they endured at the Ryder Cup. The mood was hostile at Bethpage Black over the weekend, with McIlroy and his Team Europe colleagues facing a barrage of verbal hostility from spectators.
But matters escalated dramatically when McIlroy’s wife, Stoll, allegedly had a beverage hurled at her by a spectator, as animosity reached boiling point between competitors and fans. Following the disgraceful incidents, PGA of America boss Derek Sprague has confirmed he will be writing to McIlroy and his family with a formal apology. He said: “I do plan on sending them an email with my heartfelt apologies for what occurred.
“There’s no place for that in the Ryder Cup or in the game of golf. I can’t wait to reach out to Rory and Erica and really, quite frankly, the entire European team. The whole European team should not have been subjected to that.
“And because of that, I feel badly and I plan on apologising to them. When it started in 1927, it was about sportsmanship and integrity of the game, and that’s what we want it to be and continue to.”
The development comes as Tyrrell Hatton has slammed Keegan Bradley’s assertion that the crowd behaviour at Bethpage was simply a “passionate” display, with the Team USA captain also suggesting he had “heard a lot of stories that Rome was pretty violent as well” during the previous tournament in 2023.
Speaking during a press conference ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, the Englishman said: “Personally, I don’t think they were close at all. With what I heard last week, I don’t think Rome comes anywhere near that. To be honest, personally, I don’t agree with what they said there. I don’t know what else to add to that. I think they (Rome and Bethpage) are quite far apart to be honest.”
Meanwhile, discussing the aggressive spectators at Bethpage Black, where Team Europe secured a 15-13 victory over Team USA, Hatton added: “I don’t really think that the insults is the way forward. I would much prefer it to be a respectful atmosphere – you let the guys play and the best team wins, rather than trying to affect the outcome by trying to put off players.
“But I don’t think it will be as hostile (in 2027) as maybe as it was last week. I would like to think that it will be very respectful.”
PGA Tour veteran Tommy Fleetwood also described what it felt like competing within such a charged atmosphere at the weekend. He said: “There is a big difference between a hostile environment and personal comments.
“Again, I think we were all prepared for it. Personal comments can go too far, and you obviously hope that that doesn’t happen again, or it shouldn’t happen, but it is just so out of our control.”
Despite a barrage of hostility, Luke Donald’s Team Europe had the final say at the tournament, pulling off a 15-13 victory. After a commanding performance in the foursomes and fourballs on Friday and Saturday, the USA looked set to stage an epic comeback from an 11⁄2-41⁄2 deficit during Sunday’s singles.
However, Shane Lowry ensured that Europe held onto the title they clinched in Rome two years ago by securing a draw against Russell Henley, prompting a mass exodus of American fans. The victory was then sealed for the visitors when Hatton drew against Collin Morikawa.
