Rory McIlroy has previously made his feelings clear about Roy Keane, who made a harsh comment about the golfer’s wife, Erica Stoll. During the recent Ryder Cup victory, McIlroy faced jeers, whistles and some harsh words from the American crowd.
The 36-year-old golfer responded with a few choice words of his own, but when his wife, Erica, was struck by a drink thrown from the crowd, he labelled it as ‘unacceptable’. However, Manchester United legend Keane had a different take on the incident, leaving his Overlap co-hosts Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and Ian Wright in fits of laughter.
Keane amused his fellow pundits when he showed little sympathy and suggested to McIlroy that he should have told his wife: “Just stay at the hotel, love.”
“I’m no expert in golf, I don’t play the game, but I watch top-level sport, and you’re telling me there is pressure on these players because some people were shouting,” Keane stated. “In football, if you go to Leeds or Anfield on a Tuesday night [that’s pressure].
“These guys are playing in tournaments every week, and all of a sudden they are going to be upset by a few yanks.
“McIlroy has won all the big prizes, do you think he’s going to be upset by a few people? It’s ridiculous. And then they do get upset because of their partners.
“Let me tell you, if I was a golfer and my partner or wife was getting abuse, I’d go, ‘Just stay at the hotel, love; I’ll see you tonight when I get back.’ You don’t come to the other tournaments, but you get into an outfit and come to the Ryder Cup; stay at home.
“If I’m getting loads of stick, go home. And I bet they go back to a nice hotel, they’re not going to be camping in a tent.”
Keane might have intended his remarks as jest, but it’s not the first occasion he’s sparked debate regarding the golfer, having previously declined to sign an autograph when McIlroy was merely 12 years old.
In 2017, McIlroy received plaudits after footage emerged of him presenting a golf ball to a young supporter which went viral.
The golfer expressed astonishment at the attention the clip garnered, insisting such gestures were routine for him. “It just shows what such a small thing can mean to a kid,” McIlroy said.
“I had it go the other way for me, where I asked someone for an autograph as a kid and they didn’t give it to me. And I’ve never liked them since.
“It was Roy Keane. He should be one of my heroes because I was, and still am, a huge Man United fan. But I remember I went and asked him for his autograph at the Portmarnock Links Hotel when he was with the Ireland squad and he just said ‘no’.
“And it just sort of stuck with me ever since. So, that’s why if a kid asks me for an autograph, I always try to do it.”
McIlroy later reflected on the encounter with Keane, where he was turned down for an autograph, offering his perspective on what had transpired.
Speaking on the Overlap last year, McIlroy said: “I was down at the Parmer Links hotel and the Republic of Ireland team were staying there too.
“I saw one of my Manchester United heroes, Roy Keane, in the lobby, and I must’ve been around 12 years old, so I went over to him asking for an autograph.
“He looked up at me and said, “not today kid”, but it was okay as it didn’t make an impression on me.”