The 2025 Ryder Cup ended just over a month ago, shocking the golf world. A hostile crowd at Bethpage Black ruined the event by hurling abuse at the European team, particularly Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica.
A PGA of America executive’s dismissive comments about inappropriate crowd behavior sparked more controversy.
But on Wednesday, McIlroy revealed that another PGA executive had a very different reaction after the Ryder Cup, issuing a “gracious” apology to McIlroy’s team. McIlroy also praised the performance of the U.S. Ryder Cup players in a hostile atmosphere at Bethpage.
Here’s what you need to know.
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By Sunday morning of the 2025 Ryder Cup, the abuse European teams faced from rowdy fans had become a focal point of the tournament. At this point, it’s hard to deny that fans have crossed a line.
However, Don Ray, president of the PGA of America, is unwilling to take responsibility on behalf of American fans.
Speaking to the BBC at Bethpage on Sunday, Rhea sought to dismiss the behavior of the crowd and suggested that European fans would be equally bad at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.
“I haven’t heard of anything like that, I’m sure it happened,” Ray said when asked about the abuse McIlroy suffered at the Ryder Cup. “When we were on the other side in Rome, it happened and Rory understood… something like this was going to happen, I don’t know what they said. But I just know golf is the engine of beauty.”
Rhea’s comments further angered European players and suggested the PGA of America was out of touch with what was happening outside Bethpage.
Another PGA executive, CEO Derek Sprague, worked to calm the situation.
McIlroy says PGA CEO Derek Sprague sent McIlroy an ‘apology’ letter
Speaking to BBC Sport at the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, McIlroy revealed he had received a “lovely email” from Sprague apologizing for the horrific treatment McIlroy’s team received at the Ryder Cup.
“Erica [McIlroy’s wife] McIlroy was working with Derek at the PGA, so we knew Derek and his wife very well. “He was very gracious or apologetic, and he wrote us a lovely letter, which we really appreciated,” McIlroy said. “
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McIlroy also said he considered the abuse from the crowd a “compliment” because it showed they felt they needed to “get inside our heads” to have a chance of winning.
He quickly clarified that he was only talking about American fans. McIlroy had nothing but good things to say about the American player.
“[The U.S. players] Amazing and unbelievable and, I guess, very sorry for some of the things they heard on the golf course. “
