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Heather McMahan resigned as Ryder Cup host after leading a vulgar chant against Rory McIlroy at Bethpage Black. McIlroy responded in his own manner despite intense crowd hostility.
Europe’s Rory McIlroy at the Ryder Cup (AP)
A master of ceremonies at the Ryder Cup has stepped down after participating in a vulgar chant aimed at Europe’s Rory McIlroy, the PGA of America confirmed on Sunday.
McMahan’s Controversial Chant
American comedian and actress Heather McMahan, who was hosting the first tee at Bethpage Black, was filmed repeatedly shouting, “F**k you, Rory,” early on Saturday to energize the home crowd.
The Ryder Cup crowd was out of control at Bethpage and this will have definitely played a part. It wasn’t even 7am when an official announcer was leading the 1st tee grandstand into a chant of “fuck you Rory” on the mic.Completely unacceptable
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) September 28, 2025
The chant was audible across the course through the PA system, drawing immediate criticism.
Apology and Resignation
In response, the PGA of America issued a statement: “Heather McMahan has extended an apology to Rory McIlroy and Ryder Cup Europe and has stepped down from hosting the first tee of the Ryder Cup.”
Intense Crowd Atmosphere
Bethpage Black, where the U.S. team holds a commanding lead, has long been expected to host a vocal and spirited audience. However, some fans have gone beyond typical cheering, resorting to verbal assaults aimed directly at players.
McIlroy himself was visibly frustrated during Saturday’s matches, turning to spectators who continued heckling him and exclaiming, “Guys, shut up,” with an expletive.
Rory McIlroy chirping back to the crowd at the Ryder Cup yesterday:“Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!”
We’ve never seen anything like that at a golf tournament before and likely never will again. Hopefully there’s a better tone at Bethpage today.pic.twitter.com/cP0bUXFVva https://t.co/UDTc28SBrb
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) September 28, 2025
McIlroy Responds Calmly
After the round, the Northern Irishman reflected on the crowd’s behavior.
“Look, you know, 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 of whether they took it too far or not,” he said.
McIlroy, who this year became only the sixth player to complete a career Grand Slam of golf’s four majors, acknowledged the difficulty of focusing under hostile conditions while remaining measured in his response.
(with Reuters inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
September 28, 2025, 21:56 is
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