Rory McIlroy suffered nonstop ribbing from fans while playing his matches at Bethpage Black. He condemned their actions as un-American and detrimental to the game of golf. This weekend, the once-celebrated PGA Tour event turned hostile for McIlroy as he was bombarded with hateful invective. In reaction, the PGA of America significantly increased their security presence to protect the players.
During his last few rounds, particularly while playing next to Shane Lowry, McIlroy faced a barrage of booing. A video captured an incident where Lowry had to be restrained by his caddie as a fan made a comment just before McIlroy prepared to hit a drive. Across three days, McIlroy was subjected to relentless harassment that completely ruined the experience of playing the game. This deeply dangerous conduct is what led to officials booting two different fans off the course.
McIlroy was notably disappointed in the ugly display of behavior shown by the New York fans that turned ugly. “If I was an American, I would be annoyed,” he stated, emphasizing that supporters should back their own players rather than direct energy towards insulting European competitors. He continued to lambast the state of affairs, adding, “I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf. I personally believe in a higher standard for golf than what was up there this week.
This year, the PGA of America stepped in to improve the often boorish scene. Along with tightening security for McIlroy’s entourage, they enhanced signage to remind fans to keep their reactions respectful. Even with these security additions, McIlroy was still often the subject of hecklers during his final match with Scottie Scheffler on Sunday.
On Saturday morning, McIlroy got into a verbal battle with a fan who stopped him while he was going through his pre-shot routine. He just as adamantly instructed the spectator to “shut the f.
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