Rory McIlroy’s turbulent Ryder Cup week reached another flashpoint on Sunday as the Northern Irishman asked for fans to be removed from Bethpage Black after they used squeaky rubber ducks to try and disrupt his swing.
The five-time major champion has endured a fraught three days with the partisan New York crowd, exchanging words with spectators and even gesturing angrily on multiple occasions.
What began as light-hearted banter during Thursday’s practice sessions has descended into a series of confrontations that have become one of the dominant narratives of this year’s tournament.
The latest incident unfolded on the 10th tee of McIlroy’s singles match against World No 1 Scottie Scheffler.
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According to NBC, spectators who had purchased a “Cherry Fairway Fizz” cocktail on site were given complimentary plastic duck toys as part of a promotion — items which were then repurposed by some fans to make noise as McIlroy lined up his drive.
Footage showed McIlroy stepping away from the ball and gesturing towards security officials, requesting that those responsible be escorted away.
After play resumed, his drive drifted into the rough and Scheffler capitalised, winning the hole to edge one-up in the match.
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Rory McIlroy’s turbulent Ryder Cup week reached another flashpoint on Sunday as the Northern Irishman asked for fans to be removed from Bethpage Black after they used squeaky rubber ducks to try and disrupt his swing
|REUTERS/GETTY
This was not the first time the 36-year-old had lost patience with the crowd over the weekend.
On Saturday evening, he was filmed shouting “guys, shut the f*** up” at hecklers while addressing a shot on the back nine.
Later, on the 18th green, he appeared visibly enraged as more chants rained down from the gallery, reportedly directing an expletive-laden outburst at specific fans before leaving the hole.
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Rory McIlroy has been frequently targeted by fans at this year's Ryder Cup
|REUTERS
The emotional scenes followed a day in which McIlroy’s wife, Erica Stoll, was reportedly reduced to tears after persistent taunts from the grandstands.
Video circulating online appeared to show the couple being struck by a drink thrown from the crowd as they departed the course, with team-mates and security staff seen restraining McIlroy as he attempted to confront those responsible.
The Ryder Cup atmosphere at Bethpage Black has been predictably intense, but European captain Luke Donald admitted earlier this week that he had gone to unusual lengths to prepare his team for what awaited them.
Virtual reality simulations and even hired actors were used in training sessions to desensitise players to jeering and distractions.
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| REUTERSDespite the animosity, McIlroy has remained a talisman for Europe, winning both his foursomes matches with Tommy Fleetwood and helping secure a commanding lead heading into Sunday.
Tournament organisers are expected to review security protocols after several spectators were ejected on Saturday for abusive behaviour.
While raucous crowds are a hallmark of the Ryder Cup, questions will now be asked about where the line should be drawn between passionate support and behaviour that disrupts play.