A crowd announcer at the Ryder Cup has stepped down after leading an expletive-filled chant directed at Rory McIlroy. Heather McMahan urged fans at the first tee to shout, “f*** you Rory” together after players were introduced to the crowd before the start of the afternoon session at Bethpage Black on Saturday.
This incident was one of several unsavoury moments on a fractious and fraught day of action, overshadowed by crowd problems. It set the tone for the kind of treatment McIlroy subsequently received during the event.
McMahan, who was not the main announcer but was entertaining the crowd, has since issued an apology. A statement from the PGA of America, the event organisers, read: “Heather McMahan has extended an apology to Rory McIlroy and Ryder Cup Europe and has stepped down from hosting the first tee of the Ryder Cup.”
European captain Luke Donald accused American fans of crossing the line after his players, most notably McIlroy, were subjected to relentless heckling. Comments and insults were repeatedly aimed at the Northern Irishman as he prepared to play shots.
At one point during the morning session, McIlroy shouted at a fan, and his afternoon match was delayed multiple times as appeals for calm were made, including by his opponent Justin Thomas.
Donald said, “It was loud, it was raucous. What I consider crossing the line is personal insults and making sounds when they are trying to hit on their backswings or very close to when they are trying to go into their routines. That did happen a little bit.”
The PGA of America declined to comment when asked by the PA news agency about reports of further disturbances, including fighting, in the crowd.
Much attention had been focused on the hostile reception Europe was expected to receive from a boisterous, partisan New York crowd. McIlroy and partner Shane Lowry bore the brunt of much of the abuse aimed at the European team, repeatedly clashing with fans on their way to a win against Thomas and Cameron Young.
McIlroy described the day as “really challenging,” while Lowry seemed to embrace the atmosphere.
“It was intense. It was like something I’ve never experienced,” Lowry said. “But this is what I live for. This is it. This is, like, honestly, the reason I get up in the morning, for stuff like this.”
Reflecting on the crowd’s behaviour, McIlroy stated, “People can be their own judge of whether they took it too far or not. I’m just proud of us for being able to win today with what we had to go through.”
The tension wasn’t limited to interactions with the crowd. On the course, Bryson DeChambeau screamed in the face of Tommy Fleetwood following a complaint from Fleetwood’s partner Justin Rose. Rose had objected to DeChambeau’s caddy, Greg Bodine, walking across the line of his putt, sparking a spat involving players and caddies.
“I was ready to hit my putt,” Rose explained. “I didn’t feel like that space was being honoured. I made my feelings known. Asked him to move. Maybe not as politely as I could have done, but in the scenario, it’s coming down the stretch, we both have a lot on our minds and it’s intense out there.”
Despite the disruptions and heated exchanges, Europe managed to ignore the noise and tension to win both sessions convincingly on Saturday, taking a commanding 11.5-4.5 lead.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/ryder-cup-crowd-announcer-steps-down-over-expletive-filled-rory-mcilroy-chant-1812147.html
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