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Comedian Heather McMahan has talked about her controversial Ryder Cup moment that resulted in her resignation as the designated hype woman from the first tee after she participated in hostile song about Rory McIlroy.
McMahan stepped down from her tasks on Saturday after a video of her who attended the fan-led “F — you, Rory” sang circulated on social media. The PGA of America Published a short statement Saturday night confirming that McMahan would not be back to the last day on Sunday.
Heather McMahan by 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Host of Radhika Jones held in Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, March 2, 2025. (Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
“Heather McMahan has expanded an apology to Rory McIlroy and Ryder Cup Europe and has stepped down from hosting the first tee in the Ryder Cup.”
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McMahan approached the situation under her podcast “definitely not” on Wednesday, when she said she immediately apologized for McIlroy and Team Europe. But she rejected the first reports that she was leading the songs and adding context about the “toxic” crowds and what ultimately led to the incident.
“I understand my responsibility in this. However, it is a little interesting because I think there must be some connection about what exactly happened.”
McMahan said she was unclear about her role as host of the first tee and that she eventually understood it when her job was to “hype” the crowd. After Friday’s sessions, McMahan said on Saturday took another way.
“We got out of full throttle,” she remembered. “The word I had received from the team was that we had to get all hyped, hyped, hyped. Team America comes out, we have to be so out of control, so full throttle and cheer and sang and get everyone to really pump up the team and get the energy going.”
Europe -captain Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy celebrate after a putt on the 15th hole on Bethpage Black Golf Course under the Ryder Cup Golf Tournament, Saturday 27 September 2025, in Farmingdale, New York. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Team USA Ryder Cup Legend calls Rory McIlroy for hypocrisy about golfans
She claimed that when the bully audience went her way in early Saturday morning, her job changed to entertain quickly.
“I am employed as a comedian, but unfortunately gig kind of was a little more of a court as a court, Pep Rally, Cheerleader, and we tried to figure it out while we went.”
McMahan said, despite trying to lead song that involved the names of American players, “became” to be booed. ”
“These guys don’t want anything to do with it. They are like ‘this is New York, we will be bully.’ And that’s how it went.
McMahan said the audience’s energy was “not the mood” and while repeating the song, she immediately recognized her guilt of participating.
Rory McIlroy from Europe is celebrating after putting on the 17th green in the afternoon Fourballs on day two of the 2025 Ryder Cup on Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course in Farmingdale, New York. (Vaughn Ridley/Sports File Via Getty Images)
“I made the absolute horrible mistake of saying it back to them once. And if you watch the video, I laugh a little at myself, like questioning, like ‘F — you, Rory?’
“I want to take full responsibility and sincerely apologize for Rory and Team Europe for saying it. It was so foolish of me. I didn’t start the song. I was just like that tale to get out there,” she added later.
Fans on Bethpage Black Come under control for their treatment of Team Europe players over the weekend. McIlroy condemned fan behavior and added, “I don’t think we should ever accept it in golf.”
“I think golf should be kept to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week,” he said.
