McIlroy Receives Apology Over Ryder Cup Abuse
Rory McIlroy revealed that Derek Sprague, CEO of the PGA of America, sent him a personal apology for the abuse McIlroy and his wife faced during Europe’s Ryder Cup win in New York.
Ryder Cup Controversy
Europe managed to hold off a strong comeback from the United States at Bethpage Black. The Americans were trailing 12-5 going into the final session but mounted a late rally in the singles matches, ultimately falling short.
- Luke Donald’s team, especially McIlroy, encountered harsh abuse from a partisan crowd over the three days.
- A beer thrown from the crowd hit McIlroy’s wife, Erica.
Sprague’s Apology
“I got a lovely e-mail from Derek Sprague apologising,” McIlroy told BBC Sport before the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
He added that Erica had previously worked with Sprague at the PGA of America, making the apology feel personal and sincere.
“He couldn’t have been more gracious or apologetic and he wrote us a lovely letter, which we really appreciated.”
McIlroy’s View on the Hostile Atmosphere
Despite the abuse, McIlroy believed the hostile crowd actually motivated the European team. He said the negative atmosphere made them stronger as a unit.
“I take it as a compliment that they targeted me, but then at the same time, it was a tough week,” McIlroy said.
“That made us better as a team. It galvanised us and it really put our arms around each other.”
Meanwhile, USA captain Keegan Bradley declined to criticize the passionate home fans at Bethpage.
Summary: Despite facing verbal abuse and even physical incidents, McIlroy received a gracious apology from the PGA's CEO, highlighting the resilience and unity sparked by the Ryder Cup’s intense atmosphere.