Rory McIlroy encountered a chorus of jeers from spectators when he arrived at the first tee for Wednesday's practice session at Bethpage Black, signalling a dramatic change in his relationship with American golf fans.
The five-time major champion, who claimed Masters glory in April to secure his career Grand Slam, acknowledged the hostile reception with a wave as he prepared for his eighth Ryder Cup appearance.
Once embraced as a favourite by US galleries following his major triumphs, the world No2 has emerged as the primary villain for New York fans ahead of Friday's opening matches.
The 35-year-old has already engaged in pointed exchanges with American players, describing Bryson DeChambeau as an "attention grabber" and characterising abuse from home supporters as "inevitable".
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy encountered a chorus of jeers from spectators when he arrived at the first tee for Wednesday's practice session at Bethpage Black, signalling a dramatic change in his relationship with American golf fans
|REUTERS
European captain Luke Donald has implemented virtual reality training sessions to help his team acclimatise to the anticipated hostile atmosphere, with McIlroy revealing the technology simulates crowd noise and heckling.
"It is just to simulate the sights and sounds and noise," McIlroy explained. "That's the stuff that we are going to have to deal with."
The VR system allows customised taunts, enabling players to experience potentially offensive remarks before encountering them on the course.
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The Northern Irishman was also jeered during the Ryder Cup opening ceremony
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American players are actively encouraging their home supporters to create an intimidating atmosphere, with Collin Morikawa expressing disappointment at the relatively subdued practice days.
"I'll be honest, I think it's kind of tame so far, Tuesday and Wednesday," Morikawa stated, before adding his hope that "Friday is just absolute chaos."
The US team views the partisan crowd as a strategic advantage, with Morikawa asserting that American players "want to use that to our advantage" and comparing it to home support in other sports.
Justin Thomas acknowledged hearing "some stuff" from spectators but drew a clear boundary when it comes to personal attacks on players' families.
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European teammates have expressed unwavering faith in McIlroy's capacity to withstand the anticipated barrage of heckling from American spectators.
Justin Rose highlighted McIlroy's mental fortitude, stating: "I think Rory is very comfortable with himself. I think he has thick skin."
The veteran Englishman emphasised that McIlroy possesses "an amazing talent" for maintaining his performance regardless of external pressures, noting: "He always plays incredibly freely."
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European team-mate Justin Rose believes Rory McIlroy has 'thick skin'
|REUTERS
Tommy Fleetwood dismissed concerns about partnering with McIlroy despite the hostile environment, declaring: "Whoever gets to play with Rory this week, what a privilege."
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg acknowledged the inevitability of spectator taunts, describing "chirping" as an integral element of the competition.
McIlroy's confrontational history at Ryder Cups includes his celebrated car park altercation with Patrick Cantlay in Rome two years ago, where he branded the American a "p***k".
The Northern Irishman has developed a reputation for theatrical gestures, notably cupping his ear after successful putts to quieten American galleries at previous tournaments on US soil.
The 2023 event saw Cantlay become a focal point for European supporters who waved caps and chanted "Hats off for your bank account" following speculation about payment disputes, though Cantlay maintained his hatless appearance was simply due to poor fit.
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