Rory McIlroy shared a heartfelt moment with his wife, Erica Stoll, on Sunday after Europe clinched the Ryder Cup with a score of 15-13 at Bethpage Black.
Following teammate Shane Lowry’s putt on the 18th hole that secured the European victory, McIlroy celebrated by kissing Stoll on the green, wrapping up a memorable weekend on Long Island.
Throughout the event, the 36-year-old was surrounded by eager fans, while Stoll, who’s eight years younger, faced a bit of chaos as a drink was thrown in her direction by a rowdy crowd on Saturday.
“I don’t think we should accept that in golf,” McIlroy remarked later that night, emphasizing the need for a higher standard of conduct in the sport compared to what was observed during the tournament.
On the second day of the competition, McIlroy had called out to the audience, suggesting their behavior was inappropriate, reminding everyone of the decorum typically expected in golf.
The situation escalated when a video clip surfaced, capturing the moment when a drink was tossed, hitting Stoll. Dailand Detier from Golf Magazine shared the footage, describing it as someone forcibly taking a drink from another person.
After the victory, McIlroy celebrated with a chant referencing CBS sports reporter Amanda Balionis, while also addressing the lack of decorum exhibited by the crowd throughout the proceedings.
“Golf can bring people together. It teaches significant life lessons, etiquette, and respect,” he stated. “But I didn’t see much of that this week.”
With the Ryder Cup slated to return to Europe in 2027, McIlroy expressed hope that fans across the Atlantic would ensure such incidents do not happen again.
“This behavior should not be tolerated at the Ryder Cup,” he noted, vowing that Irish fans would be reminded of the standards expected in two years when the event is held at Adare Manor’s golf course in Ireland.
