Rory McIlroy may have been celebrating Europe’s dramatic Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black, but controversy off the course continues to dominate headlines.
Fresh footage has surfaced showing the moment a drink struck McIlroy’s wife, Erica Stoll, during chaotic scenes involving rowdy spectators. Initial reports suggested the drink was deliberately thrown, but the new angle appears to show that a spectator swatted the cup from another fan’s hand, causing it to clip Stoll’s hat and startle her.
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The Northern Irishman, a five-time major champion, was already at the centre of heated exchanges with American fans throughout the week. On day two, McIlroy told hecklers to “shut the f*** up” before refusing to play until the noise died down. Teammate Shane Lowry also clashed with the crowd, famously shouting “f*** you” after sinking a putt and having to be held back by security following another incident.
Tensions reached boiling point as certain fans crossed the line, with personal taunts aimed at both McIlroy and Lowry. According to The Telegraph, Stoll herself was targeted alongside crude remarks about Lowry’s weight, while one U.S. host was even forced to step down after leading chants at McIlroy.
The Ryder Cup has long been known for its fiery atmosphere, but the off-course behaviour in New York has sparked debate about where passion ends and abuse begins.
