New footage has emerged of Rory McIlroy’s furious reaction after his wife Erica Stoll was hit by a drink thrown by the raucous New York crowd on a toxic day of Ryder Cup action on Saturday.
The Team Europe star was the focus for a number of flashpoints as the atmosphere reached boiling point on Saturday, with the crowd screaming ‘f*** you, Rory’ at the Masters champion.
McIlroy was also taunted at various points with references to his private life – but the hostilities at Bethpage Black ramped up a notch when Stoll was hit with a cup filled with liquid by the 17th green.
In a video which circulated on Saturday, McIlroy can be seen wiping something from her hat and asking her if she is okay while they moved away from the stand of rowdy fans, surrounded by security for the European team.
But in more recent footage, the Northern Irish star is seen to have an even more impassioned reaction to Stoll being struck.
In a clip shared by Spanish-language outlet Movistar, footage is captured of the drink appearing to hit Stoll’s hat.
New footage has emerged of Erica Stoll being hit with a drink during a tumultuous day at the Ryder Cup
In the video, Rory McIlroy’s wife looked around shocked to see where the drink had come from after it struck her hat
In the ensuing melee, Stoll looked around shocked, as if to see where the projectile had come from.
McIlroy’s initial reaction seemed to be to head into the crowd and find the perpetrator, with the player having to be held back by security provided to protect him and his family.
After being dissuaded from doing so, McIlroy went to comfort Stoll, walking away from the fans with his wife.
The couple hugged each other after beating Justin Thomas and Cameron Young on an afternoon where Europe finished the day on the brink of glory.
Moments later, McIlroy was reunited with Stoll, and they walked off the 18th green arm in arm.
But Daily Mail Sport reported on Saturday evening that Stoll was alleged to have been left in tears by various incidents over the course of the day, including chants directed at her.
Vile slurs included calling Stoll a ‘w****’ and making references to their marital status, after the pair called off their divorce last year.
McIlroy was also taunted over his previous relationships, and chants were made which took in the speculation over his links to golf journalist Amanda Balionis.
Stoll reportedly had ‘tears streaming down her face’ as she left the course on Saturday night
She and McIlroy left the course arm-in-arm after a day of vitriol at Bethpage Black in New York
At one point, McIlroy was so incensed that he refused to play, pausing as he lined up for a putt during his and Shane Lowry’s Saturday afternoon fourballs victory over Justin Thomas and Cameron Young.
He stepped away from his shot twice at the sixth hole – and was subsequently booed – before waiting a total of four minutes for the atmosphere to calm down.
On Friday, McIlroy had gestured with his middle finger at the increasingly loud home fans after being subjected to chants, which appeared to only spur on the supporters the following day.
Throughout Saturday, the security presence was ramped up in a bid to bring the baying fans under control.
Supporters were also reminded on the big screens to uphold a certain standard of behaviour.
McIlroy kept his composure when asked if the American fans had taken it too far by targeting Stoll but admitted he felt ‘drained’ after his day of play ended.
‘I don’t mind them having a go at us, that’s to be expected,’ McIlroy said. That’s what an away Ryder Cup is. Whenever they are still doing it while you are over the ball and trying to hit your shot, that’s the tough thing.
McIlroy stated that he wished the crowd would let him play his shots in peace – even if he expected a more raucous atmosphere in between the action
Police presence increased as bad behavior threatened to overshadow the second day
‘In between shots, say whatever you want to me. That’s totally fine.
‘But just give us the respect to let us hit shots and give us the same chance that the Americans have.’
Europe’s team captain Luke Donald said that he believed that fans had ‘crossed the line’ on Saturday, as the visitors appeared to sprint away with a resounding victory after ending the day with a record-breaking 11.5 to 4.5 lead.
The withdrawal of Viktor Hovland after the star aggravated an existing neck injury saw a point split as his singles opponent Harris English was also withdrawn, and the match tied, makes it 12 against 5, with Team Europe just three points from an impressive away victory.
