Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre has spoken out about the mistreatment he faced from American fans during last week’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, highlighting several harsh taunts directed at him as tensions escalated in one of the most unfriendly environments in recent tournament history.
MacIntyre, who played a key role in Team Europe’s victory over Team USA with a score of 15-13, posted a video on Instagram where he recounted some of the most disgraceful insults he encountered from the audience, including:
- “Get some cardio!”
- “Eat another burger, Bobby!”
- “When are you starting Ozempic?”
- “Bobby Mac and cheese!”
- “Milk bottle!” (mocking his complexion)
Despite the abuse, MacIntyre delivered a strong performance — securing 1.5 points, including a vital half-point in the final match against Sam Burns, sealing Europe’s win. In response to the taunts, he captioned his video cheekily: “Keep them coming,” with a kiss emoji, earning praise from fellow Scots, including footballer Andy Robertson, singer Amy Macdonald, and rugby star George Horne.
Fan Behavior Under Fire
The Ryder Cup crowd — particularly the American fans at the New York venue — has come under heavy criticism for crossing the line. Spectators reportedly shouted obscenities not only at MacIntyre but at Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and other European players. McIlroy was filmed shouting “shut the f* up” at a heckler, and Lowry was caught on camera yelling “f* you” after holing a clutch putt.
The situation escalated further when McIlroy’s wife, Erica, had a can of beer thrown at her, prompting an official rebuke from PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague, who said: “There is no place for it in the game of golf… We dealt with it swiftly and efficiently as it was made known to us.”
The organization confirmed that fans were ejected and relocated during the event, but critics say more needs to be done to restore civility to the sport.
While McIlroy has been vocal about raising golf’s standards, his emotional reactions have drawn criticism — notably from former U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger.
“You can’t say the fans need to behave better, then in the meantime yell ‘f*** you’ at them,” Azinger said. “I love Rory, but that’s not consistent.”
McIlroy defended his actions post-win, saying the hostility went too far and asserting,
“Golf should be held to a higher standard… Sometimes this week we didn’t see that.”
Growing Concern Over Ryder Cup Culture
While most fans were respectful, as PGA officials noted, the increasingly aggressive atmosphere — described by Global Golf Post as resembling “Bourbon Street on New Year’s Eve” — has sparked debate about the future of fan behavior in the sport.
Numerous commentators have urged golf’s governing organizations to “slow down” before the lively atmosphere of the Ryder Cup turns into lasting negativity.
While Europe reveled in their hard-earned victory, MacIntyre rallied the team for a singalong of “500 Miles” by The Proclaimers — a cheerful reaction to a weekend overshadowed by animosity, yet it highlighted the emotional strain faced by the players and their families.
