McIlroy Urges Ryder Cup Crowd Respect in Ireland

Golfer calls for immediate intervention against abuse at 2027 tournament

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Rory McIlroy is determined to prevent the verbal abuse he and his wife faced during Europe's Ryder Cup win at Bethpage Black from happening again when the tournament returns to Ireland in 2027. The Northern Irish golfer highlighted the need for his team and others to take responsibility in ensuring respectful conduct at the event held at Adare Manor, Limerick.

Why it matters

The Ryder Cup is one of golf's most prestigious events, but has faced issues with unruly fan behavior in recent years. McIlroy's call for action aims to uphold the tournament's founding principles of friendly competition and mutual respect between Europe and the United States.

The details

During the 2022 Ryder Cup in New York, McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll were targets of hostile remarks from some spectators as Europe secured a 15-13 victory over the United States. With the next event scheduled for September 2027 in Ireland, McIlroy emphasized that it is crucial for the home team to establish good crowd behavior early on. He urged immediate intervention when inappropriate actions or comments arise, reinforcing that such conduct undermines the spirit of the Ryder Cup.

  • The 2022 Ryder Cup took place in September at Bethpage Black in New York.
  • The 2027 Ryder Cup is scheduled for September at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland.

The players

Rory McIlroy

A professional golfer from Northern Ireland who has played on multiple Ryder Cup teams for Europe.

Erica Stoll

Rory McIlroy's wife.

Scottie Scheffler

The current world number one golfer.

Justin Rose

A professional golfer from England who has played on multiple Ryder Cup teams for Europe.

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What they’re saying

“That's up to the home team to set the tone early on in the week. If you see something or you hear something, you point it out straight away.”

— Rory McIlroy, Professional Golfer (theconwaybulletin.com)

“We'll obviously do everything we can to make sure that the game and the matches are played in the right spirit.”

— Rory McIlroy, Professional Golfer (theconwaybulletin.com)

“The reception that I get most places that I go to play is usually amazing and I'm deeply grateful for that. The Ryder Cup was just a one-off.”

— Rory McIlroy, Professional Golfer (theconwaybulletin.com)

“Anyone that wants to catch Scottie or get anywhere close is going to have to consistently bring that sort of game week in and week out like he does. He's really the first one since Tiger [Woods] that's doing this.”

— Rory McIlroy, Professional Golfer (theconwaybulletin.com)

“I can still be better. I'm not really looking at what's going well, I still look at what could be better, so I'm not very good at celebrating the good stuff, I'm more into: 'Why is that not as good as it should be?'”

— Justin Rose, Professional Golfer (theconwaybulletin.com)

What’s next

The 2027 Ryder Cup will be held at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland in September.

The takeaway

McIlroy's call for action aims to ensure the 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland reflects the tournament's founding principles of friendly competition and mutual respect between Europe and the United States, preventing the recurrence of hostile environments seen in recent editions and enhancing the experience for players and supporters alike.