American spectators at the Ryder Cup subjected Erica Stoll to such severe harassment that she was seen with tears running down her cheeks as she departed the course alongside her husband on Saturday.
The wife of Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy endured a barrage of personal attacks throughout the day, culminating in an incident where she was apparently struck by a drink hurled from the crowd near the 17th green.
Footage captured McIlroy cleaning something from his wife's headwear whilst checking on her wellbeing, as security personnel surrounded the couple.
The pair eventually departed the venue together, with Erica visibly distressed following hours of hostile treatment from sections of the American gallery during Europe's dominant performance.
Erica Stoll was left in tears following a tumultuous day two of the Ryder Cup
|GETTY
The sustained harassment directed at McIlroy throughout Saturday's play included explicit chants of "f**k you Rory" and cruel jibes about his personal life.
Spectators repeatedly referenced the couple's marital difficulties from the previous year, with one individual shouting "How's your divorce going?" according to Golfweek, whilst another yelled "Your ex is looking for you".
The taunts particularly targeted their relationship history, as McIlroy had filed for divorce in 2024 before the couple reconciled, with the golfer subsequently describing the experience as a "wake-up call".
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Even Caroline Wozniacki, the tennis player who previously dated McIlroy, became part of the heckling material used by hostile fans.
The couple, who wed in 2017 and share daughter Poppy Kennedy, faced continuous verbal assault that left McIlroy describing himself as "drained" following the day's events.
The intensity of the verbal assault prompted tournament officials to deploy additional security personnel around McIlroy and his European colleagues.
At one stage, McIlroy halted his preparation for a shot due to persistent heckling, whilst spectators were shown warnings about "abusive behaviour" on venue screens.
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Rory McIlroy refused to play for over four minutes due to fan abuse
|REUTERS
The Northern Irishman's patience eventually snapped when he told nearby spectators to "shut the f***" up as he attempted to play.
This outburst followed his earlier attempt at a more diplomatic approach, having blown kisses to fans in the main stand, though he had also reportedly shown his middle finger to spectators on Friday.
Despite the hostile environment, Team Europe maintained their commanding 11.5-4.5 advantage, requiring just three additional points to secure victory in what could become a comprehensive triumph.
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European captain Luke Donald maintained that the charged atmosphere served to motivate his players further, stating: "Things got tougher out there, and it fired them up even more. They were able to get better through those difficult moments out there. That is what makes me most proud as a captain, just their ability to take the punches and come back even stronger."
Donald acknowledged boundaries had been crossed, noting: "What I consider crossing the line is personal insults and making sounds when they are trying to hit on their backswings or very close to when they are trying to go into their routines. That did happen a little bit."
Keegan Bradley refused to condemn the behaviour of the home fans
|REUTERS
In contrast, American captain Keegan Bradley declined to criticise the behaviour of home supporters.
McIlroy addressed the situation directly, saying: "I don't mind them having a go at us, that's to be expected. That's what an away Ryder Cup is. Whenever they are still doing it while you are over the ball and trying to hit your shot, that's the tough thing."
He added: "In between shots, say whatever you want to me. That's totally fine. But just give us the respect to let us hit shots and give us the same chance that the Americans have."