Team Europe emerged victorious in the 2025 Ryder Cup with a scorecard of 15-13. However, despite that triumphant run at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, European players left the golf course with a bitter experience. A sport which has been known as the gentlemen’s game took such a shape at the 2025 Ryder Cup that it turned out to be an unprecedented scene. Irish star Rory McIlroy faced the wrath of the verbal attack of the American supporters.

Starting from loud verbal chants, homophobic slurs, personal insults, vulgar slogans, to throwing beer at Rory McIlroy’s wife, American fans indeed crossed all limits. McIlroy faced the harshest taunts, as it even took an ugly turn with anti-Irish remarks coupled with jabs at his personal life. And while speaking about this incident, English golfing legend Tony Jacklin too could not hide the feeling of disdain and dissatisfaction.

Sky News, while covering the 2025 Ryder Cup, referred to the event as “the most abusive Ryder Cup in almost a century of matches”. And Americans have indeed given enough reasons to get the title. Recently, Tony Jacklin joined Champions Speakers, a leading UK Speakers agency and headline sponsors of the Champions UK plc European Seniors Masters on the Legends Tour, for a candid conversation. During the interview, he reflected on the 2025 Ryder Cup scenario and blatantly referred to the behavior of the US fans as “despicable”.

Referring to the event, Jacklin added, “What disappointed me was the behavior of sections of the American galleries. It was despicable at times. They even came within minutes of stopping play.” Criticizing the security measures and demanding a stricter enforcement of more rigid rules, he added, “Security wasn’t up to it. When you have a mass of people and an announcer leading anti-opposition chants, that’s the last thing golf needs.”

The sport has long been known for its genteel appeal. Even the known code of conduct mentions that the sport demands silence and decent applause for even the opponent. More so, fans are expected to remain quiet and still during shots and not interfere with the course of the game. But Americans made sure to make the ambience worse than even a soccer derby match can imagine. Tony Jacklin also emphasized the same.

He even supported Golfweek’s Eamonn Lynch’s suggestion for the PGA of America to opt for external help to maintain the crowd and also safeguard the decorum of the sport and the event. “I don’t disagree. You can’t just assume it’ll be fine, you need careful management and the right venue setup”, said Jacklin.

Taking a direct and unapologetic dig at the authority’s leadership skills, he stated, “I think the President of the PGA of America is fortunate to still be in the job after suggesting it was a similar situation to Rome. It wasn’t.”Post the event, Rory McIlroy too shared his bitter experience, while the European team even reached out to the POTUS for his reaction to the incident.

From jabs at personal life to abusive roars to his wife getting insulted, one of the world’s best had to deal with all of it in foreign soil. And it wasn’t just the crowds that made it tough for the Irishman to execute his showdown on the course in peace. Heather McMahan, an American comedian, started a chant, “f— you, Rory!” during the game. Although McMahan was forced to step down and apologize, the situation was already out of his hands. Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas took their rivalry way beyond the sport and engaged in a confrontation at the 45th Ryder Cup. 

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While fans are supposedly expected not to disrupt the course of the game, US fans used squeaky rubber ducks to disturb European players. The situation turned out to be so bad that McIlroy did not take a shot until the audience was ready to put a stop to their unexpected behavior. After the event, the Irish star shared, “I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.”

Sharing his disappointment, McIlroy added, “Golf has the ability to unite people. Golf teaches you very good life lessons. It teaches you etiquette. It teaches you how to play by the rules. It teaches you how to respect people. Sometimes this week, we didn’t see that.” Even President Donald Trump marked his attendance at the 2025 Ryder Cup, and his presence was celebrated by American fans with loud cheers. 

Post the victorious moment, the European team tagged the POTUS and shared a clip on X, mentioning, “Are you watching, Donald Trump?” To this, Trump replied generously, stating, “Yes, I’m watching. Congratulations!” However, a defeat followed by a congratulatory message from the President won’t put a pause to the debates that the US fans’ behavior at the 45th Ryder Cup has given rise to.