Rory McIlroy calls for a Ryder Cup spectator to be removed after a homophobic remark in recent footage.

McIlroy Faces Fan Backlash at Ryder Cup

On Saturday, Rory McIlroy became the target of harsh criticism from Ryder Cup fans, which escalated to a breaking point.

Video footage shared on Monday captured a moment when the 36-year-old from Northern Ireland was called a homophobic slur, prompting him to demand that a fan be removed from the scene at Beth Page Black.

The clip shows McIlroy walking alongside his wife, Erica Stoll, when he reacted strongly to the insults.

In the video, McIlroy confronts the fan and tells security to “throw him out.” When asked why, he explained, “I was called an af-t.”

It was a rowdy day on Long Island; McIlroy not only instructed the hecklers to “shut up” but also alerted the course umpire, who paused play until the crowd quieted down.

Things took a turn for the worse when a drink from the stands appeared to hit Stoll, which attracted even more attention. A Golf Magazine writer tweeted a clip, noting it looked like someone had knocked a drink out of another person’s hand.

In spite of the heckling, Europe celebrated a 15-13 victory over the U.S. after their second consecutive Ryder Cup win.

Following the event, McIlroy shared a touching moment with Stoll, praising her resilience in the face of adversity from some fans.

He emphasized during an interview, “Family should be off-limits, but it clearly wasn’t this week. Erica is fine. She is a very strong woman, and she handled everything this week with grace and dignity.” McIlroy added that he was looking forward to celebrating later that evening.

Shane Lowry, McIlroy’s best friend and playing partner, commented on the unexpected level of abuse directed at Stoll, stating, “I was there for two days, and I’m not going to lie—the amount of mistreatment she faced was surprising, but the way she supported Rory and the team was incredible.” He praised her for her unwavering support.

McIlroy and Stoll, married since 2017, share a five-year-old daughter named Poppy.

Last spring, their relationship drew media attention when McIlroy filed for divorce, following unfounded rumors linking him to CBS sports reporter Amanda Balionis. These speculations resurfaced during the Ryder Cup event.