Disgusting crowds at Ryder Cup

ChiroDoc

ChiroDoc

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The Ryder Cup golf tournament is played every two years, pitting the U.S. against the EU and U.K. The tournament concluded yesterday at Bethpage Black golf course on Long Island, NY. The U.S. lost, which is neither here nor there.

What disgusted me was the shameful behavior of the spectators against Irish golfer Rory McIlroy in general, and his wife in particular. They continuously heckled him, and at one point someone threw a beer at his lovely wife! It was a truly embarrassing spectacle, and should never happen at a professional golf tournament.

The golf authorities should never again schedule an international golf tournament in New York.
 

ChiroDoc said:
The Ryder Cup golf tournament is played every two years, pitting the U.S. against the EU and U.K. The tournament concluded yesterday at Bethpage Black golf course on Long Island, NY. The U.S. lost, which is neither here nor there.

What disgusted me was the shameful behavior of the spectators against Irish golfer Rory McIlroy in general, and his wife in particular. They continuously heckled him, and at one point someone threw a beer at his lovely wife! It was a truly embarrassing spectacle, and should never happen at a professional golf tournament.

The golf authorities should never again schedule an international golf tournament in New York.
Click to expand...
Apparently ... the abusive spectators were all American...

I have no idea why they did this but it was headlines in our media....
 

Apparently, they did it because of a political remark made by McIlroy which I may not
repeat here but is easily found online. The remark was answered by the person to whom it was directed.
The beer actually glanced off his wife's head. I think two people were taken into custody. There was heavy police presence after that.
 
Years ago when I would go to old Yankee Stadium, I saw Yankee fans throw beer cans at big mouth rude Red Sox fans. Met fans at Shea Stadium would yell out disgusting things at players on the other National League teams.
 
"But framing Bethpage as a one-off misses the larger point. What happened here didn’t invent the tone of American life so much as reflect what’s been an incremental breakdown in public behavior. The country now lives in all-caps, from school-board meetings that sound like street rallies and comment sections that have spilled into the street. The algorithm bankrolls outrage, the put-down is political vernacular and the culture applauds “saying the quiet part out loud”.

In 2025 you can say almost anything in public and be cheered for it (unless you’re [name redacted]). Put a rope line and a microphone in front of that mix and you get exactly what you got at the Ryder Cup: people testing boundaries not because the moment needs them to, but because they’ve been told volume is virtue. Some might argue golf, in the US particularly, has always been a sport for white [name redacted], but it’s hard to remember galleries calling opposing players “faggots” and openly deriding their wives until recently. What could have changed?"

Guardian article

Bethpage was my home course(s) for a couple years. I attended several days of the 2009 US Open there. They sell a lot of beer!
 
It all reminds me of the playground he started it, no she started it…

I agree that it was all way over the top inappropriate behavior and should not be condoned.

I also believe that people are taking cues from our elected officials and are becoming more careless with their words and behavior.

It’s probably best not to poke the bear and expect it to go unnoticed.
 
Sport and entertainment venues make much money on food and alcohol sales. But numbers of drunks, will always be hopelessly obnoxious, unaware of how negatively they appear to others. Note, this person has drank little alcohol for decades though understand the pleasant feeling, because in social situations, it diminishes mental abilities and next day is hangover unpleasant.
 
PGA should have had them thrown out on the spot and banned from attending golf events. Golf was always a Quiet Spectator Audience. These men who heckled thought they were at a Wrestling Event. Repulsive.
 
It doesn’t seem to be anything new. I remember seeing heckling of the European players on TV almost every time the tournament has been held in the U.S. since the 1990s. It just seems to be getting worse. It happens when the players walk to the green, when they get ready, and even during their backswing. Deliberately trying to put the players off?

Its left to the American players to apologise on behalf of the American fans.
 

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