Multiple Ryder Cup fans have been escorted off the property at Bethpage Black after the heckling of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry reached boiling point on Saturday afternoon.
Abuse of Team Europe’s players – and McIlroy in particular – has been a theme of the weekend in Long Island, New York, but it crossed a line during day two’s four-balls and led to a series of ejections.
The Daily Mail understands extra security was rushed to McIlroy and Lowry’s match against Justin Thomas and Cameron Young, shortly after McIlroy refused to continue playing until ‘they shut up’.
Even more security is expected to arrive in the next hour, and the Ryder Cup has ‘standby’ officials they are able to send to specific groups if the heckling gets out of hand.
The Daily Mail also witnessed a police officer telling one fan to ‘quiet the f*** down’ after one particular heckle, and it is understood that some of the shouts at McIlroy and Lowry have included jibes over their wives, families and physical appearance.
Fans have also begun to boo the big screens around Bethpage Black whenever messages are shared warning them about ‘abusive behavior’.
Extra security rushed to the scene to try and quell the jeers of the American fans
The unsavory atmosphere at Bethpage Black has been gradually increasing since the tournament began on Friday, with McIlroy seen holding up his middle finger to fans as he walked off the course on day one.
Supporters in the grandstand then chanted ‘f*** you, Rory’ to the Northern Irishman when he arrived on the first tee on Saturday morning, only for him to blow kisses in return.
McIlroy then bit back again during the foursomes a few hours later, shouting ‘Guys, shut the f*** up’ after jeers continued while he was trying to play a shot.
More to follow.
