The vitriol spewed at Rory McIlroy by Ryder Cup fans hit its breaking point Saturday.
Footage circulating on X Monday captured the moment the Northern Irishman, 36, demanded a spectator be booted from Bethpage Black for calling him a homophobic slur.
In the video, McIlroy can be seen walking the green beside wife Erica Stoll as a spectator shouted, “Rory, hey ya little f—-t.”
With his mouth agape, McIlroy turned in the fan’s direction and instructed security to “throw him out.” When the spectator asked why, the reigning Masters champion responded, “For calling me a f—-t.”
It was a wild afternoon on Long Island, where McIlroy not only told hecklers to “shut the f–k up,” but informed a course referee he refused to putt until fans “shut up.”
The day descended further into chaos when a drink from the stands appeared to collide with Stoll, McIlroy’s wife of eight years.
Golf Magazine’s Dylan Dethier posted a clip of the moment in question and noted on X, “Looked like someone hit the drink out of another guy’s hand.”
Despite the incessant chirps, Europe powered to a 15-13 victory over the Americans.
McIlroy, who shared a heartfelt moment with Stoll after Europe’s second consecutive Ryder Cup win, went on to praise his wife for how she handled the vile treatment from fans.
“[Family] should be off limits, but obviously it wasn’t this week,” McIlroy said when asked about loved ones being taunted on the course. “Erica is fine. She is a very strong woman and she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has. I love her and we’re going to have a good time celebrating tonight.”
Shane Lowry, a close friend of McIlroy’s and his playing partner in Saturday afternoon’s four-ball session, remarked Sunday on the “astonishing” amount of “abuse” Stoll endured.
“I was out there for two days, and I’m not gonna lie, the amount of abuse she received was astonishing — And the way she was out there supporting her husband and supporting her team was unbelievable,” Lowry said. “And kudos to her for that.”
Stoll and McIlroy have been married since 2017 and share one child together, 5-year-old daughter Poppy.
Their marital woes became tabloid fodder last spring when McIlroy filed for divorce.
Unsubstantiated rumors then linked McIlroy to CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis, whose name was also part of the McIlroy taunts at Bethpage.
The five-time major champion and Stoll reconciled in June 2024.