The questionable behavior from fans at Beth Page Black during the Ryder Cup on Saturday seems to have extended beyond just the players.
There’s been some back-and-forth on social media about an incident where it appears “someone in the crowd threw a drink.” This happened while Rory McIlroy and his partner Shane Lowry were competing to secure points for Team Europe.
In a clip shared on Twitter, it looks like Rory is brushing off his wife’s hat and checking in on her, prompting speculation about whether she was okay. She then seemingly moved away from the American supporters,” according to a tweet from Barstool Sports’ Fore Play Podcast. If this is accurate, it adds another negative impression regarding fan behavior from the event.
In various comments, viewers shouted, “Someone threw a drink at her!” However, it’s still unclear if Erica Stoll actually got hit by the drink, as reported by the Sun.
Throughout much of Saturday, McIlroy, aged 36, faced some unsavory chants from the crowd while preparing to tee off at the first hole.
During the match, he even dropped an F-bomb directed at the audience, telling the referee quite assertively, “I’m not going to putt until they’re quiet.”
In response to the troubling environment, additional security measures were put in place for McIlroy and Lowry’s match against Americans Cameron Young and Justin Thomas.
Reporters noted that after handling a rough day, Rory shared a heartfelt embrace with his wife, Erica, which was a touching moment behind the 18th green, as mentioned by Adam Stanley of Sportsnet.
Since marrying in 2017, McIlroy and Stoll have a five-year-old daughter, Poppy, who seems to be a major part of their family picture.
The couple drew media attention back in the spring of 2024 when McIlroy filed for divorce after nearly seven years together but surprisingly decided to mend things last June.
McIlroy expressed in a statement, “In recent weeks, Erica and I realized our best future is together as a family.” He added, “We’re grateful to be working on our differences and looking forward to a fresh start.”
Looking ahead, McIlroy is scheduled to go up against the world’s top-ranked golfer, Scotty Scheffler, in Sunday’s singles match.
As the Ryder Cup approaches its final day, Team Europe is currently ahead with a score of 11.5-4.5.
