It wasn’t just passionate fan behaviour at Bethpage last weekend—it was a level of fan hostility so toxic that Team Europe nearly walked off the course. According to a recent update shared by NUCLR GOLF on X, things got so bad that Europe’s Ryder Cup team was prepared to stop playing if the abuse directed at Rory McIlroy and his wife, Erica Stoll, didn’t stop.

The update posted a few hours ago read — “The Telegraph reports that Team Europe’s Ryder Cup team was prepared to stop playing last weekend if abuse directed at Rory McIlroy & his wife Erica did not stop. A formal apology from the PGA of America has been sent to the McIlroys for what transpired at Bethpage.”

It’s a turnaround from what unfolded initially. When PGA of America President Don Rea learnt of the abuses hurled at Team Europe and Rory McIlroy, he brushed off the situation, and his response was jarringly casual. He said, “I haven’t heard some of that, and I’m sure it has happened… Rory understands.” That dismissive tone didn’t sit well with fans or golfers, especially as reports emerged that a beer had been thrown at McIlroy’s wife, and that McIlroy had exchanged heated words with several fans throughout the weekend.

Now, after days of silence and scrutiny, Rea has finally issued a formal apology. In a statement shared by journalist Michael McEwan, Rea admitted, “Some fan behavior clearly crossed the line. It was disrespectful of who we are as the PGA of America or as PGA of America Golf Professionals.” He added, “Our CEO Derek Sprague has apologized on our behalf to Erica and Rory McIlroy and to everyone with Ryder Cup Europe. I would also like to personally apologize… for not representing our association in the light with some of my comments in the media during the event.”

Don Rea’s call for understanding was misplaced after the vile abuse Europe faced all weekend. Even Shane Lowry, usually easygoing, was heckled with cruel jabs about his weight and swing. Passionate support is one thing, but personal attacks crossed the line. Golfers were warned that one more insult would end their play, underscoring how toxic Bethpage had become and why an organizer’s apology was unavoidable.

Even Jon Rahm was heckled by a USA fan during a Ryder Cup practice round at Bethpage Black with an “Ozempic” jibe, but he laughed it off, calling the comment “really funny” and taking it in good spirit.

However, when the incident was repeatedly downplayed by comparing the rowdy Bethpage crowd to the atmosphere in Rome, the narrative quickly backfired — instead of easing tensions, it struck the wrong chord and ended up offending many.

Rory McIlroy’s Team Rejects the Bethpage-Rome Comparisons

The comparisons to Rome didn’t help either, and in fact, they made things worse. When Don Rea claimed, “It happened when we were in Rome on the other side,” he sparked even more backlash. European golfers were quick to dismiss that narrative.

Tyrrell Hatton, never one to mince words, fired back, saying, “Personally, I don’t think they were close at all… I think they are quite far apart, to be honest.” Matt Fitzpatrick echoed the sentiment, calling the remarks “pretty offensive to European fans.”

Team Europe was clearly prepared for a biased crowd at Bethpage, but what they encountered felt different and a lot meaner. Tommy Fleetwood summed it up best — “There’s a big difference between a hostile environment and personal comments.”

It wasn’t just loud cheers or chants for Team USA. It was catcalls, heckling, and cruel digs aimed mostly at European golfers and their families. And while Keegan Bradley tried to dismiss it as merely “passionate,” the tone inside the ropes told a different story.

Thankfully, CEO Derek Sprague has promised changes for 2027, emphasizing that the Ryder Cup is about “sportsmanship and integrity of the game, and that’s what we want it to be and continue to.” Let’s hope those values are more than just words when the Cup heads to Adare Manor in 2027.