While it is likely that the 2025 Ryder Cup will be remembered for a tremendous European victory in the long run, the main talking point directly after the event has been centred around the behaviour of the American fans at Bethpage.

The European players were subjected to some horrendous abuse over the three days of play. Rory McIlroy was a particular focus for the home supporters, with his wife Erica also being targeted as she made her way around the course.

It was a grim aspect to what was an otherwise top class sporting occasion.

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Shane Lowry Identifies Surprising Aspect Of Abuse From Ryder Cup Fans

While some partisan behaviour is expected from the home fans at any Ryder Cup, there is no doubt that a mark was overstepped on this occasion.

Shane Lowry played with Rory McIlroy twice during the event, meaning he was within earshot of the worst abuse was dished out over the course of the weekend.

Speaking to the media at the European team hotel, he identified the one particularly jarring element of the abuse he heard at Bethpage (h/t Irish Examiner):

Sunday was pretty tame for me in the end, but two days with Rory, it is something we’ll probably sit down and laugh about.

What I can’t understand is, I look into the crowd and these people are the same age as my mum and dad. And they’ve probably got kids and grandkids. And they’re throwing out obscenities. I just don’t get it.

We knew it was going to happen, we were ready for it and yes we did well to handle it.

The Americans said in the build-up that they want them to bring the chaos. And they did. But the stuff Erica [McIlroy] had to listen to for a few days, it was horrible, fair play to her for doing what she did.

Being out there supporting her husband and the team, she was probably the big winner in my eyes this week. A strong woman, fair play to her.

While you might have expected some younger fans to dish out abuse to players, it is a tad surprising to hear that much of it actually came from an older demographic.

In any case, steps will have to be take in order to sure that this issue is not repeated at future editions of the Ryder Cup held in the United States.

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