This year’s Ryder Cup will be remembered in years to come for Europe’s dominance of the doubles sessions, for America’s near-charge to an impossible Sunday comeback, and for Shane Lowry’s emotional clinching putt late in the singles.

Unfortunately, an epic tournament in New York will also be remembered for the vicious abuse suffered by the European team at the hands of the American fans.

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Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy were particularly frequent targets, with the Saturday evening session marking a low point as McIlroy appeared emotionally vexed by some of the vitriol being fired at him from the partisan home crowd.

Insults were targeted at the Irish pair’s families, while Lowry took jabs related to his weight. In one especially unsavoury incident, McIlroy’s wife Erica was struck by a beer thrown from the crowd.

The golf world united in condemning the antics of the American fans at Bethpage, but somewhat predictably, Roy Keane had little sympathy for McIlroy when reflecting on a dramatic Ryder Cup.

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Roy Keane Ryder Cup

Roy Keane is well known as a no-nonsense man, and his career was littered with incidents when his performance was elevated by moments of bite with the opposition.

Perhaps it was for that reason that he was so dismissive of the relentless abuse suffered by Team Europe (and especially Rory McIlroy) at last month’s Ryder Cup.

On this week’s Stick to Football, Keane first bit back at suggestions that the US could ever have mounted a Sunday comeback, comparing the Europeans’ advantage to a 4-0 half-time lead in football.

He then went at the European response to the abuse from the American crowd, throwing a particular dig at Rory McIlroy.

So, you tell me. I’m no expert in golf – I don’t play but I watch the sport.

You’re saying the pressure on these players because some people were shouting? Become a footballer and go to Leeds or Anfield on a Tuesday night, let me tell you.

These guys play in big tournaments every week. All of a sudden, they’re going to be upset by a few Yanks?

You’ve got McIlroy, McIlroy’s won all the big prizes. Do you think he’s going to be upset by a few people? It’s ridiculous!

Of course they [knew abuse was coming]. They’ve built it up for the last six months, ‘Wait til you come to America.’ Of course they knew they were going to get abused!

Keane also took aim at the pageantry of the Ryder Cup, with the former Ireland captain questioning why players’ wives and partners were on the course in the first place.

And then they get upset because of their partners…let me tell you what I would say to my partner. If I was a golfer, and my partner was getting abuse, I’d say to my partner, or my wife, or my girlfriend, ‘Just stay in the hotel, love. I’ll see you tonight when I get back. You don’t come to the other tournaments, but guess what? You get a new outfit and come to the Ryder Cup!’

You’ve got a new outfit, a new belt, and then I’m getting loads of stick? Well, go home!

I guarantee you they’re going back to a nice hotel, they’re not in a camp, in a tent.

There was a somewhat tongue-in-cheek aspect to some of Keane’s criticism, but it was clear that the Corkonian had no time for complaints about the atmosphere, especially considering some of the cauldrons he was accustomed to during his playing career.

Rory McIlroy was a previous guest on Stick to Football, and recounted a brilliant story of his hero, Roy Keane, turning down an autograph when he was a kid.

Keane took his opportunity to land a dig back at his compatriot during his Ryder Cup discussion.

“Well, he shouldn’t be swearing either, should he?” Keane jabbed

“I didn’t see him signing autographs after, by the way! All those little kids waiting for him!”

It’s clear that Roy Keane has lots of respect for Rory McIlroy’s achievements, though it is hard to imagine the Manchester United legend being in any way fazed by the scenes that befell McIlroy at the Ryder Cup.

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