The 2025 Ryder Cup ended more than a month ago and left the golf world reeling. Hostile crowds hurled abuse at the European team at Bethpage Black – especially Rory McIlroy and his wifeErica – crash the event.
A PGA of America executive’s dismissive comments about inappropriate crowd behavior sparked even more controversy.
But on Wednesday, McIlroy revealed another PGA executive had a radically different response after the Ryder Cup, sending McIlroy a “gracious” apology. McIlroy also praised the players on the US Ryder Cup team for the way they handled themselves amid the hostile atmosphere at Bethpage.
Here’s what you need to know.
PGA President Don Rea sparks controversy at 2025 Ryder Cup
By Sunday morning at the 2025 Ryder Cup, the abuse the European team faced from rowdy fans had already become tournament history. At that point, it was hard to argue that the fans had crossed the line.
PGA of America president Don Rea, however, was reluctant to accept responsibility on behalf of American fans.
;)
‘It was disgusting:’ European Ryder Cup legend ‘disappointed’ in Bethpage Black crowd
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Rea was interviewed by the BBC on Sunday in Bethpage, where he tried to ignore the behavior of the crowd and suggested European fans were just as bad at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.
“I haven’t heard some of that – I’m sure it’s happened,” Rea said when asked about the abuse McIlroy faced at the Ryder Cup. “It happened when we were in Rome on the other side and Rory understands … things like this are going to happen and I don’t know what was said. But all I know is that golf is the engine of good.”
Rea’s comments further angered European players and suggested the PGA of America was out of touch with what was happening outside the ropes at Bethpage.
It took the efforts of another PGA executive, CEO Derek Spragueto calm the waters.
McIlroy Says PGA CEO Derek Sprague Sent McIlroy ‘Fake’ Letter
on wednesday, in an interview with BBC Sport at the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi, McIlroy revealed that he had received a “lovely email” from Sprague apologizing for the terrible treatment McIlroy faced at the Ryder Cup.
“Erica (McIlroy’s wife) was working with Derek at the PGA of America at the time, so we know Derek and his wife quite well,” McIlroy said. “He could not have been more gracious or more genuine and wrote us a lovely letter, which we greatly appreciated.”
;)
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McIlroy also said he saw the crowd’s abuse as a “compliment” because it showed they felt the need to “get into our heads” to have a chance to win.
He quickly clarified that he was only referring to American fans. As for the American players, McIlroy had only good things to say.
“(The U.S. players) were amazing and outstanding, and they couldn’t have been more, I think, apologetic about some of the things they heard on the golf course.”
