FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — From the second Bethpage Black was introduced as this yr’s Ryder Cup host in 2013, there was an expectation the competitors may very well be one of many loudest — and probably rowdiest — in current reminiscence.
However what transpired Saturday within the afternoon four-ball match that featured Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry became one thing past the anticipated.
Over the course of 18 holes, the European stars had been heckled and yelled at repeatedly, particularly throughout their pre-shot routines or earlier than they hit a putt. Because the match in opposition to Justin Thomas and Cameron Younger progressed — and Europe’s lead on america strengthened round them — the depth from the group escalated, resulting in elevated safety and a number of fan ejections.
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On the fourth inexperienced, McIlroy needed to again off his ball a number of occasions as followers yelled at him.
“We knew what we were going to get coming here. It was a very tough day,” Lowry mentioned. “Being out with Rory doesn’t make it any easier. I think he’s getting the brunt of it.”
Earlier Saturday in foursomes, McIlroy was yelled at as he lined as much as hit a shot and responded, “Shut the f- up!” which was caught on the TV broadcast.
“I don’t mind them having a go at us. Like, that’s to be expected. I mean, that’s what an away Ryder Cup is,” McIlroy mentioned after his morning match. “Whenever they are still doing it while you are over the ball and trying to hit your shot, that’s the tough thing.”
Tensions continued to rise as followers zeroed in on McIlroy. These ranged from “F— you, Rory,” to particular feedback about McIlroy’s earlier main losses at Pinehurst, to how his Masters win this yr was “a fluke”, to his private life and even his marriage. Lowry acquired his share of insults, too, with some about his weight, his lack of contributions to McIlroy of their partnership and the way a lot they each “couldn’t handle the fans.”
“Look, when you play an away Ryder Cup it’s really, really challenging,” McIlroy mentioned. “It’s not for me to say. People can be their own judge on if they [took] it too far or not.”
By the ninth gap Saturday afternoon, almost 20 New York State police troopers lined the ropes because the gamers teed off. Various Bethpage State Park police on bikes rode alongside and monitored the galleries.
On the tenth gap, after each Lowry and McIlroy had hit their tee pictures, Lowry referred to as over a state trooper and had him throw out a fan who had directed a remark at McIlroy earlier than he hit his drive.
Rory McIlroy heard it from the crowds at Bethpage Black — and gave it proper again throughout a pair of wins Saturday. Brendan Mcdermid-Reuters by way of Imagn Photos
In an announcement, the PGA of America mentioned it added safety and state police to McIlroy’s match in addition to the opposite afternoon periods. It additionally elevated the frequency of fan habits messages on videoboards.
“We will continue to closely monitor fan behavior and take appropriate action,” the PGA mentioned.
New York State police spokesman Beau Duffy mentioned two followers had been ejected.
However regardless of the added safety, the noise and heckling continued. When McIlroy lined as much as hit a putt on the eleventh inexperienced, a number of marshals, guidelines officers, and each Thomas and Younger had their arms raised making an attempt to get the followers within the close by grandstand to face down and let McIlroy undergo his routine.
Whereas standing behind that inexperienced, European participant Robert MacIntyre, who sat out the afternoon session, pointed to a member of the European employees that Thomas, who had been feeding off the group’s power, was making an attempt to play each side.
“He’s f—ing gearing them up and now he’s trying to calm them down,” MacIntyre mentioned.
McIlroy, particularly, appeared to bottle up any feelings he had within the midst of the frenzy till he was capable of fireplace again. On the 14th gap, with the match all-square, he sank a birdie putt, picked up his ball from the opening and erupted. He fist pumped and gestured towards the group within the grandstands, letting out a number of yells of “Come on! Come the f— on!” earlier than observing them for an prolonged interval. When Thomas missed his birdie putt to offer the Europeans a lead within the match for the primary time for the reason that ninth gap, McIlroy stared on the crowd once more and pointed to the scoreboard.
“It was a really difficult day,” McIlroy mentioned. “I’m drained … I’m going to sleep well tonight.”
On the 18th inexperienced, after McIlroy and Lowry secured the 2-up victory over Thomas and Younger, they each embraced their wives and teammates earlier than celebrating with the group within the grandstand, which had turn into stuffed with a number of teams of loud European supporters.
“We’ve got passionate fans out here,” U.S. captain Keegan Bradley mentioned concerning the American crowd’s habits. “Their fans are loud, too. You can hear them right now.”
Lowry, nonetheless, described the expertise he and McIlroy went via Saturday as distinctive.
“It was intense. It was like something I’ve never experienced,” Lowry mentioned. “But this is what I live for. This is it. This is, like, honestly, the reason I get up in the morning, for stuff like this. This is what I love doing. I love being a part of this team. I really want us to win this tournament.”
