rory McIlroy Faces Criticism From Paul Azinger Over Ryder Cup Fan Conduct Remarks
ROME – Former Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger has publicly questioned Rory McIlroy’s stance on fan behavior during the recent Ryder Cup, pointing out what he sees as a contradiction between McIlroy’s calls for higher standards and his own on-course reactions to disruptive spectators. The exchange stems from a series of incidents at the Ryder Cup in Rome, where McIlroy confronted fans directly and requested security intervention.
McIlroy, visibly frustrated by the crowd’s behavior throughout the competition, reportedly told spectators to “shut the f-k up” before hitting a shot and,on another hole,informed a course referee he wouldn’t putt until the crowd quieted down. He also demanded a fan be removed for allegedly using a homophobic slur, and his wife, Erica Stoll, was nearly hit by a thrown drink. These incidents prompted McIlroy to state after Europe’s 15-13 victory that “golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week,” adding that golf “teaches you etiquette” and “how to respect people.”
Azinger, speaking on the “Subpar” podcast, challenged McIlroy’s position, questioning whether his actions aligned wiht his words. “Is it that golf is held to a higher standard? Or are you just going to eff you the fans and act like that’s okay?” Azinger said. “I love Rory, you know that, but you can’t say that. You can’t say the fans need to behave better and then in the meantime, lay them to waste… You can’t do both. You got to be one or the other.”
The debate arrives as the Ryder Cup is set to return to Ireland in 2027,with McIlroy stating that the conduct witnessed in Rome was ”not acceptable” and vowing to communicate that message to fans attending the event at Adare Manor. McIlroy emphasized that “this should not be what is acceptable in the Ryder Cup,” and plans to ensure Irish fans understand the standards of behavior expected at the 2027 competition.
