A grasp of ceremonies has stepped down from her position on the Ryder Cup after becoming a member of the Bethpage Black crowd in directing expletive-laced chants towards Rory McIlroy.
In an announcement launched Sunday morning, the PGA of America introduced that American comic and actress Heather McMahan won’t return to emcee on the first tee at Bethpage Black.
“Heather McMahan has prolonged an apology to Rory Mcllroy and Ryder Cup Europe and has stepped down from internet hosting the primary tee of the Ryder Cup,” mentioned the PGA of America, which runs the occasion.
Video footage taken Saturday morning appeared to point out McMahan riling up followers on the first tee by shouting, “F— you Rory,” into the microphone.
European golfers, who’ve dominated the primary two days of the competitors, have been heckled repeatedly by the rowdy Bethpage Black crowd Saturday — and McIlroy caught the brunt of the abuse.
Throughout morning foursome play, McIlroy informed spectators to “shut the f— up,” after being yelled at whereas lining as much as hit a shot. The reigning Masters champion additionally needed to again off his ball a number of occasions on the fourth inexperienced throughout afternoon four-ball play due to yelling followers.
“I do not thoughts them having a go at us,” McIlroy mentioned after his morning match. “Like, that is to be anticipated. I imply, that is what an away Ryder Cup is. Every time they’re nonetheless doing it if you are over the ball and making an attempt to hit your shot, that is the powerful factor.”
Followers heckled McIlroy over his earlier main losses at Pinehurst, shouted that his Masters win this 12 months was “a fluke,” and likewise took photographs at his private life and his marriage.
“Look, whenever you play an away Ryder Cup, it is actually, actually difficult,” McIlroy mentioned. “It is not for me to say. Folks may be their very own decide on in the event that they [took] it too far or not.”
By the ninth gap Saturday afternoon, almost 20 New York State Police troopers lined the ropes because the gamers teed off. Some Bethpage State Park Law enforcement officials on bikes monitored the galleries.
New York State police spokesman Beau Duffy mentioned two followers have been ejected. The PGA of America mentioned it added safety to the McIlroy match and the opposite three. It additionally posted a message on the big video boards on “Spectator Etiquette.”
McIlroy and the Europeans enter Sunday with a seven-point lead, the most important lead within the historical past of the Ryder Cup’s trendy format.
ESPN’s Paolo Uggetti and The Related Press contributed to this report.
