McIlroy Receives Apology for Ryder Cup Abuse
Rory McIlroy revealed that Derek Sprague, CEO of the PGA of America, sent a personal apology regarding the abuse aimed at McIlroy and his wife during Europe’s Ryder Cup win in New York.
Event Summary
At Bethpage Black, Europe defended their lead against a strong US comeback. The Americans were down 12-5 going into the final session but rallied in the singles, ultimately falling short.
Hostile Crowd Behavior
- Luke Donald’s team and McIlroy faced harsh abuse from a partisan crowd throughout the three days.
- A thrown beer from the crowd hit McIlroy’s wife, Erica.
Apology and Reconciliation
"I got a lovely e-mail from Derek Sprague apologising," McIlroy told BBC Sport. "Erica worked with Derek at the PGA of America back in the day, so we know Derek and his wife pretty well. He couldn't have been more gracious or apologetic and he wrote us a lovely letter, which we really appreciated."
McIlroy’s Perspective on the Crowd
"I take it as a compliment that they targeted me, but then at the same time, it was a tough week," McIlroy said. "That made us better as a team. It galvanised us and it really put our arms around each other."
USA captain Keegan Bradley declined to criticize the "passionate" home fans at Bethpage, noting the atmosphere was intense but part of the competition.
Author’s Summary
McIlroy accepted a sincere apology for Ryder Cup crowd abuse, viewing the hostile atmosphere as a motivator that strengthened the European team’s unity and resolve.