The European Ryder Cup team has condemned abusive behaviour from a small group of American fans at Bethpage, highlighting attacks on Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica
The European Ryder Cup team has raised concerns over the behaviour of some American fans during the three-day tournament at Bethpage Black in New York.
Rory McIlroy, 36, and his wife Erica faced repeated verbal abuse throughout the weekend and the Irish sports star had now spoken out against it.
The situation escalated when a beer thrown from the crowd struck Erica, drawing widespread outrage. The controversy also involved an MC hired by the PGA of America, who was stood down after leading a “f*** you, Rory” chant before the second day of competition.
Shane Lowry, who partnered with McIlroy in the competition, has also hit out about the abuse directed at Erica. I was out there for two days with Erica McIlroy, and the amount of abuse that she received was astonishing,” Lowry said.
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“The way she was out there supporting her husband and supporting her team was unbelievable, and kudos to her for that,” he added.
McIlroy too has praised his wife’s composure amid the chaos and has now addressed the wider issues involving the controversy over the weekend.
Gushing over his wife, the sports star said: “Erica is fine. She is a very, very strong woman. She handled everything with class and poise and dignity like she always has. I love her, and we’re going to have a good time celebrating tonight.”
However, the four-time major champion also expressed his disappointment at the lack of decorum on the course.
“I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf. I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week. We will be making sure to say to our fans in Ireland in 2027 that what happened here is not acceptable,” he added.
McIlroy also noted that the heavy police and security presence on the second day was “insane” but stressed that the problematic behaviour came from a small minority of people.
“There was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive behaviour, but it’s a minority of the crowd,” he said.
“The majority of people here are true golf fans and are respectful, and let both teams have the same chance to hit the shots and have a fair contest. But there was a small subset of people that behaved a little bit differently than that,” he added.
Who is Rory’s wife Erica?
Rory and Erica Stoll first crossed paths at the 2012 Ryder Cup in Medinah, Illinois, when Erica, working as a PGA transport official, helped McIlroy reach the course after a time zone mishap.
“Erica that week was always the one that was checking us in and out… it’s still cool to look around and think about that week, and obviously everything that’s happened since then. It’s pretty cool,” McIlroy later told the Golf Channel.
The pair remained friends for two years while McIlroy dated tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. He and Erica quietly began dating in late 2014. “I am very happy in my love life… The past six or seven months have been really nice. That part of my life is going great,” he told the Times of London in May 2015.
Rory proposed in Paris later that year, despite the city’s 2015 terrorist attack nearly derailing the trip. “We felt comfortable but I still thought at least at the start of the trip… So we went out for dinner and that was that. It was a nice trip, a nice way to end the year,” he recalled.
The couple married on April 22, 2017, at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, in a private ceremony attended by A-list guests including Stevie Wonder and Jamie Dornan.
Erica has kept a low profile since, with McIlroy noting: “She is a very low-key person, not the kind to broadcast stuff, but that side of my life is really good just now.”
They welcomed daughter Poppy Kennedy McIlroy on August 31, 2020, in Jupiter, Florida. At the time, Rory shared a black-and-white photo on Instagram, writing: “She is the absolute love of our lives. Mother and baby are doing great. Massive thank you to all the staff at Jupiter Medical Center and Dr Sasha Melendy for their amazing care.”
Erica has been a constant presence at McIlroy’s tournaments, from cheering him at multiple Ryder Cups to caddying at Masters Par 3 contests.
In May 2024, the couple briefly filed for divorce but reconciled within a month, reaffirming their commitment.
Originally from Irondequoit, New York, Erica played tennis in high school before earning a marketing degree from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2008.
Her support and discretion have helped the couple maintain a private and stable family life amid McIlroy’s global fame.
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