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Team Europe retained the Ryder Cup after a weekend on Bethpage Black, but one of the most important stories from this year’s rivalry was Team USA fans treated golfers on Long Island.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and his wife, Erica, were at the center of some of these insults on the course, and because of America’s CEO, Derek Sprague, made it a point to apologize.
“I sent a long e email to share with Rory and Erica and just told him we’ll do better in the future,” Sprague told The Athletic. “I am CEO now. I am not condoling this type of behavior. This is not good for the golf game. It is not good for the Ryder Cup. It is not good for any of the professional athletes and we will do better.”
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Rory McIlroy goes off the first tee during the first round of the US Open Golf Tournament. (Charles Leclaire/Imag images)
Sprague continued to say that he was “disappointed with fan behavior” as well as condemning what Heather McMahon, the comedian who finished his post as Ryder Cup host on Saturday after participating in a “F — you, Rory” Chant did. McMahon has refused to lead song.
“Disappointed with the first tee and Emcee that it’s just that it’s not who we are,” Sprague said. “And I was really, really, really disappointed.”
Team USA Ryder Cup Legend calls Rory McIlroy for hypocrisy about golfans
There was also a viral moment when a drink was thrown against McIlroy’s wife, leaving her stunned, while the No. 2 golf player in the world immediately searched for the tab of those responsible.
McIlroy was also seen flipping fans bird and asking others to “close f — up” at points during the three-day tournament. His partner, Shane Lowry, also speared back explosives with fans who commented on his weight while standing up to McIlroy, also one of his best friends.
(Left) Heather McMahan by 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar -Party, hosted by Radhika Jones, held at Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, March 2, 2025. Golf turn in feeding in birth, New York, on. 27, 2025. (Getty Images/Imag)
While Sprague is CEO due to America president Don Rea, did not have such creepy words while discussing fan behavior with the BBC.
“Well, you have 50,000 people here who are really excited,” he said. “Heck, you can go to a youth football match and get some people saying the wrong things. We tell the fans that booing someone doesn’t make them worse. It typically makes them play better. And when our American players have to control the crowd, it distracts them from playing.”
Players like Justin Thomas were seen orchestrated the amount to Hush or move on from certain songs during the game all weekend.
Derek Sprague, PGA of America CEO, attend a press conference next to Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 17, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA and 2033 PGA Championship tournaments are played on the field. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Team Europe sealed a 15-13 win to keep the Ryder Cup after rescue of games under singles on Sunday. Team USA was down with 11 ½-4 ½ into the day, but fought back to finally make it really close in the end.
