Europe Wins Ryder Cup Amid Fan Hostility Toward McIlroy, Wife at Bethpage Black

Rory McIlroy played a pivotal role in Team Europe's 2025 Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black, despite facing intense and hostile heckling from American fans directed not only at him but also his wife, Erica Stoll, who was struck by a drink thrown from the crowd. Stoll chose to remain on the course despite the unruly behavior, earning praise from teammates and others for her strength and composure amid the raucous atmosphere. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Chipper Jones criticized McIlroy's decision to expose his family to such hostility, noting that his own family was never allowed to attend games in similarly hostile environments. The crowd's jeering escalated to personal attacks referencing McIlroy's private life, prompting McIlroy to condemn the behavior as unacceptable and below the standards golf should uphold. McIlroy and Stoll, who have reconciled after a brief separation, recently moved to London, balancing family life with McIlroy's professional success, including his career grand slam and continued dominance in major golf events. The Ryder Cup marked another milestone in McIlroy's career while highlighting the challenges he and his family faced from the American crowd's relentless antagonism.