Tom Watson apologizes for American fan behavior at Ryder Cup

Tom Watson, a two-time U.S. Ryder Cup captain, apologized on Monday for the "rude and mean-spirited behavior" of the American fans at Bethpage Black during this past weekend's event.

Watson, who was also a four-time U.S. Ryder Cup team member, shared his thoughts in a post on his verified X account.

"I’d like to congratulate @RyderCupEurope on their victory," Watson wrote. "Your team play the first few days was sensational. More importantly, I’d like to apologize for the rude and mean-spirited behavior from our American crowd at Bethpage. As a former player, Captain and as an American, I am ashamed of what happened."

Rory McIlroy, the 36-year-old Northern Irishman and No. 2 player in the world, was the subject of vitriol, including obscenities about his personal life and family, from the fans at Bethpage Black for three straight days. His wife, Erica, even had a drink thrown at her after his round Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday night, he sat at the dais with the European flag draped over his shoulders and a Stella Artois in hand after winning the away Ryder Cup he desperately desired. It goes without saying that the behavior by the fans in Farmingdale was abhorrent. But what did McIlroy, who went 3-1-1 in the Europeans’ 15-13 win, make of it?

“Look, I don't think we should ever accept that in golf,” he said. “I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week. Golf has the ability to unite people. Golf teaches you very good life lessons. It teaches you etiquette. It teaches you how to play by the rules. It teaches you how to respect people.

“Sometimes this week we didn't see that. So no, this should not be what is acceptable in the Ryder Cup.”

What transpired over the weekend leaves a stain on Bethpage Black. But the PGA of America, which runs the Ryder Cup on American soil, will be returning to Bethpage Black with dates set for the PGA Championship in 2033 and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2028. It also held the PGA Championship there in 2019.

As for another Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, there is nothing scheduled in the future. The Ryder Cup is played on American soil every four years, and dates already are set for 2029, 2033 and 2037. The Ryder Cup will return to Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota in four years, 13 years after it debuted there.

The U.S. Open, operated by a separate entity in the United States Golf Association, was played at Bethpage Black in 2002 and 2009. The rowdiness and intense heckling 16 years ago prompted the USGA to step in. It shut down beer stands 15 minutes earlier than usual on the tournament’s Sunday, and police monitored drinking and fan behavior.

The USGA has not brought the U.S. Open back to Bethpage since, though it will return to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton next June and in 2036. With the exception of 2043, 2045, 2046 and 2048, the U.S. Open’s future sites are set through 2051. Bethpage is not among the future host sites at this time.

McIlroy recognized that it was only “a minority of the crowd” at Bethpage Black for the Ryder Cup that participated in the “unacceptable and abusive behavior.”

Would he be OK with another Ryder Cup at Bethpage?

“If the result was the same, absolutely.”

But McIlroy said the comments got to him and he chirped back a few times. The vulgarities peaked during Saturday afternoon’s four-ball match, a 2-up victory for him and Shane Lowry over Justin Thomas and Cameron Young. The Americans tried to tame the fans, but nothing would stop them.

“Cam and I said it to Shane and Rory yesterday that we felt for them,” Thomas said Sunday night.

“I guess that's the New York fans for you,” he added.

Said Lowry: “I was out there for two days with Erica McIlroy, and the amount of abuse that she received was astonishing and the way she was out there supporting her husband and supporting her team was unbelievable, and kudos to her for that.”

A large police presence followed the group Saturday afternoon, with at least 20 police officers, some on bicycles, joining them at the 10th hole. Two fans were ejected.

Fan conduct was calmer during McIlroy’s loss to world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler on Sunday, a 1-up decision. But McIlroy remained befuddled.

“I think if I was an American, I would be annoyed that people – I didn't hear a lot of shouts for Scottie today, but I heard a lot of shouts against me,” he said. “It's like, support your players. That's the thing.

“Look, it was a rough week for all of us. But at the same time, we shut them up by our performance and how we played.”

By Ben Dickson

benjamin.dickson@newsday.com@bendickson__

Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.