Fans at Bethpage are slowly checking Rory’s patience. He laughed it off when a heckler yelled, “You don’t need a button to choke, Rory.” However, that was before the competition began. On the first day, a video of McIlroy flipping the bird at the fans went viral. The moment quickly sparked backlash, with fans calling out his hot temper and bringing up past incidents where he’d lost control. By the second day, as tensions at grew, so did pressure. An announcer was caught saying “f–k you, Rory” on the mic. The heckling escalated, too, and this time, McIlroy was having none of it. Sharing the update, Kyle Porter has reported that the Northern Irishman this time used abusive language, saying, “Shut the f*** up.”

The crowd at Bethpage Black has been rowdy all week, but seeing a player of McIlroy’s stature react that way felt out of line. Holding a 2 Up lead, he had found the right rough and was getting into his pre-shot routine when fans began a commotion from behind the lines. Plus, it wasn’t only the Europeans dealing with it; even Team USA golfer Sam Burns raised his hand to quiet things down on Saturday. But while Burns went for a calmer approach,

McIlroy’s response was anything but that.

Talking about the issue, McIlroy said, “In between shots, say whatever you want to me. You gave us the respect to let us hit shots, and give us the same chance that the Americans have, I guess.”

But McIlroy wasn’t the only one targeted by the crowd. His teammate,

Robert MacIntyre, had a tougher time after a poorly timed heckle threw him off mid-swing. The distraction sent his shot into a bunker and ultimately cost him the chance to tie the match. But, unlike MacIntyre, McIlroy managed to keep his composure where it mattered most.

Teaming up with Tommy Fleetwood, he put together a strong performance against Collin Morikawa and Harris English, closing out the match 3 & 2. It was the Americans’ second foursomes defeat of the event. Still, despite the win, McIlroy’s reaction has split opinions, with many fans slamming him online after the clip went viral.

Fans are offended by Rory McIlroy’s move, while some offer support

Although McIlroy’s move on the first day was not warranted, he had his reasons. But despite that, he has been criticised relentlessly.

One fan wrote sarcastically,

“Class, as always.”

There have been many instances where the European team players were involved in arguments. Even former Ryder Cup golfer Seve Ballesteros had engaged in heated debates with fellow players on three separate occasions, across three different editions. And now, Rory McIlroy has extended the list, calling for a sarcastic snub from fans.

Another fan chimed in,

“He’s insufferable.” For many, the frustration stood out because it happened twice, and McIlroy reacted both times—something no other European player had done. MacIntyre, for example, chose to ignore the personal heckling and kept playing without responding. But McIlroy’s direct retort has left some fans with a sour impression of him.

Even Fried Egg Golf weighed in, asking, “Does this take Rory out of the running for the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award presented by Aon?”

The award, inspired by Jack Nicklaus’s famous 1969 concession to Tony Jacklin, represents sportsmanship and respect in the Ryder Cup. But with McIlroy caught using profanity twice in the span of two days, his chances of being considered for the honor have likely taken a hit.

Not all fans were critical, though. One pointed out, “And then stuffed it to 3 feet,” while another added, “ND THEN DRILLED IT LEGEND 👊👊👊👊.”

So while plenty slammed McIlroy’s reaction, others praised the way he backed it up with his play. The Northern Irishman went on to sink the putt, securing his second foursomes win of the day — a sharp contrast to Robert MacIntyre’s missed chance earlier.

Still, with most fans disapproving of his gesture, McIlroy is likely to face even more scrutiny as the tournament continues. And if the heckling ramps up, his every reaction will be under the spotlight.

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