Rory McIlroy is no stranger to dealing with hostile fans, particularly at the Ryder Cup.
Thinking back to last September’s event on Long Island, McIlroy, 37, recalled the verbal abuse that escalated to one fan even throwing a drink at his wife, Erica Stoll, before making his return to New York at the 2026 U.S. Open this week.
“Look, I love playing around New York,” he told reporters at Southampton’s Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Monday, June 15. “I love playing in this area. It’s got some of the best golf in the world.”
McIlroy also indicated he did not expect the fan reception to be as harsh at the U.S. Open as it was at the Ryder Cup, which pits a team of European players against Americans.
“This is different — like the Ryder Cup is us versus them, very partisan — like it’s just a different beast,” said McIlroy, an Ireland native. “So, yeah, was it a rough week for me at times? Absolutely.”
He continued, “But it is what it is. If that’s a price to pay to live the life that I’m living, then I’m OK with that.”
McIlroy has a contentious history with unruly fans. At the PGA Championship in May, he was seen telling a fan to “shut the f*** up” after the fan heckled him following a bad shot. It appeared he then motioned to security to have the fan removed.
He also told a fan to “shut the f*** up” at the 2025 Ryder Cup amid relentless heckling.
“I don’t mind them having a go at us. Like, that’s to be expected. I mean, that’s what an away Ryder Cup is,” McIlroy told reporters at the time. “Whenever they are still doing it while you are over the ball and trying to hit your shot, that’s the tough thing.”
He added, “Look, when you play an away Ryder Cup it’s really really challenging. It’s not for me to say. People can be their own judge on if they take it too far or not. I’m just proud of us for being able to win with what we had to go through.”
McIlroy also addressed the beverage-throwing incident with his wife at the Ryder Cup following Team Europe’s win.
“Erica is fine,” he said. “She’s a very, very strong woman, you know. She handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has. I love her and we’re going to have a good time celebrating tonight.”
Mcilroy, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, is currently going for his second U.S. Open title, having previously won the tournament in 2011. The 2026 U.S. Open runs from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21.
