Rory McIlroy is disappointed that the 2025 Ryder Cup is being remembered for the abhorrent abuse from some USA fans rather than Luke Donald’s European team winning on away soil for the first time since 2012.
McIlroy acknowledges that athletes, especially golfers, must do a better job of blocking out the noise from crowds in future but has been irked over the last fortnight that the narrative in the Ryder Cup fallout hasn’t been about an incredible European performance.
“I’ve been following the sort of narrative coming out of of the Ryder Cup just like everyone else,” McIlroy said ahead of the inaugural DP World India Championship in New Delhi.
“But unfortunately, I think it takes away from what we focused on which is what an incredible performance it was by The European Team.
“Obviously as I’m playing my matches, I’m focused on trying to win my point. You know, you see that the other guys are winning their matches or they are doing well but you don’t realize how well they are playing.
“So just over the last two weeks, being able to watch the highlights and just see, especially those first two days, in the foursomes and the four-balls how got European Team were. The Americans would hit it close; we hit it closer. The Americans hole a putt and we hole a putt on top it and it happened every single time.
“The unfortunate thing is people aren’t remembering that and they are remembering the week for the wrong reason. I would like to shift the narrative and focus on how good The European Team were and how proud I was to be part of that team to win an away Ryder Cup.”
A huge proportion of the European team’s pre-Ryder Cup preparation was to learn how to handle the expected abuse from the New York crowd at Bethpage Black. Virtual reality headsets were given to each of the 12 players on the team to try and simulate what it could be like.
However, McIlroy says that atmospheres like that have become commonplace at sporting events, not just golf.
“I would say that deep down at its core, the essence of watching sport, it’s the reality show that we have,” he said.
“We don’t know the outcome. We don’t know what’s going to happen, and that’s amazing. There’s very little content on TV nowadays that can actually do that.
“So my sport will always be what it is, and I think the majority of sports fans watch it because of that.
“But look, it’s a big business, and big business and money comes from having opinions on things; and the more eyeballs things are ultimately a good thing, if it can be harnessed the right way.
“But yeah, it’s definitely changed. When people watch sports for the gambling aspect and put money on games, that is something that, especially in America, is changing.
“But I think at its core, watching sport, whatever that is, is still very pure and it’s still pure competition, and I think that’s an amazing thing.”
Social media has a huge role to play in the perception of elite athletes. Sportspeople at the very top level are earning millions to which the audience assume that gives them the right to behave in whatever way they see fit as a bonus for their entrance fee into a sporting event.
McIlroy believes athletes must do better to block out the noise and avoid social media and headlines about themselves.
“As an athlete and knowing that you’re going to get criticised for your performances, good or bad or whatever it is, I think at this point in time and in this modern world, that’s — I wouldn’t say it’s a price to pay but yeah, you just – it is what it is.
“I think athletes nowadays have to do a better job of blocking out the noise. So not going on social media. Trying not to read anything about yourself. Easier said than done.
“But I think the more athletes in this day and age, if they can do that, I think it’s better. I think it’s better for their performance. I think it’s better for their mental health, and I think it’s better for their longevity in a given sport, as well.”
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