NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Rory McIlroy and the rest of the Europe team are delighted to have retained the Ryder Cup after a hard-fought tournament at Bethpage Black.
But McIlroy knows the 2025 Ryder Cup won’t be remembered for the actual shots that happened on the course as much as he would like.
It was only the seventh time in history that a visiting Ryder Cup team took victory, but the biggest stories of the past month revolved around the verbal altercations that occurred between the Europe team and fans at the Bethpage Black grounds.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Team Europe’s Rory McIlroy reacts after a missed putt on the 12th hole during the four ball on the second day of Ryder Cup competition at Bethpage Black on September 27, 2025. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters via Imagn Images)
“I’ve been following the narrative coming out of the Ryder Cup, like everyone else,” he said via CBS Sports. “Unfortunately, I think it takes us away from what we should be focusing on, which is the incredible performance of the European team.”
As McIlroy and his playing partner Shane Lowry verbally fought with customers, the former said he didn’t even realize how well his team was playing.
RORY MCILROY ARGUES WITH BETHPAGE’S BLACK FANS, IF HE WANTED THE RYDER CUP BACK IN NEW YORK
“The Americans would attack him closer, we would attack him closer,” he explained. “The Americans made a putt, we made a putt on top of them. And that happened every time.”
Team Europe was on track for a big road win, but Team USA fought back to make it a real fight on Sunday during the singles matches. However, they were able to retain the Ryder Cup, as Lowry made a birdie putt on the 18th hole to give his team the victory.
McIlroy appeared to be public enemy number one for the US fans on the field all weekend, and while there were some friendly chirps, plenty of others crossed the line.
Europe’s Rory McIlroy celebrates after playing the 17th green during the afternoon fourballs on day two of the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course in Farmingdale, New York. (Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
There were instances where fans called his wife “a four,” dropped F-bombs while she tried to line up shots, and much more. McIlroy was seen yelling back, including a moment at the roadside pit where he backed away from a ball and told the insulting fan to “shut the fuck up.”
“Honestly, I’d say it’s just an impulse,” McIlroy said of speaking to fans. “Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. I’m a pretty impulsive character, if you haven’t noticed.
“Sometimes I commit, and sometimes I hold back and abstain. But I don’t really choose when, and sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t.
Team Europe’s Rory McIlroy celebrates after holing his putt on the 14th hole during the four-ball on the second day of Ryder Cup competition at Bethpage Black on September 27, 2025. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters via Imagn Images)
Team Europe defeated the Americans, 15-13, to become the first team since 2012 to win a Ryder Cup on the road. While that may not be the main story of the tournament, it is the one McIlroy will try to keep in mind as he looks ahead to next year.
