After a day of toxic abuse and vitriol that got so bad, organizers had to rely on police to keep things in order, Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica put on a united front after a Ryder Cup day like no other.
McIlroy was tormented about Erica, his ex-fiancee tennis star Caroline Wozniacki and other aspects of his personal life by fans as he conquered the Bethpage course with playing partner Shane Lowry, a close friend outside of golf.
They hugged each other after beating Justin Thomas and Cameron Young on an afternoon where Europe finished on the brink of glory. Moments later, McIlroy was reunited with Erica, and they walked off the 18th green arm in arm.
McIlroy kept his composure when asked if the American fans had taken it too far by targeting Erica but admitted he felt ‘drained’ after his day of play ended.
‘When you play an away Ryder Cup, it´s really, really challenging,’ McIlroy said. ‘People can be their own judge of whether they took it too far or not. I’m proud of us being able to win with what we had to go through.
He continued: ‘I don´t mind them having a go at us. ‘Like, that’s to be expected. I mean, that’s what an away Ryder Cup is.
‘Whenever they are still doing it while you are over the ball and trying to hit your shot, that’s the tough thing.’
Erica followed her husband alongside Wendy Lowry, Shane’s wife, and Diane Donald, wife of Europe captain Luke on a day of high drama.
And McIlroy gave as good as he got, seemingly thriving at times off the drama. But he thanked playing partner Lowry for keeping him composed against Thomas and Young, who themselves at times looked unimpressed by what fans were screaming out at their rivals.
‘I am drained to say the least, he (Lowry) dug in big time when I had to. Credit goes to this guy. He was there for me all day.’
Lowry added: ‘It was intense, something I’ve enver experienced but this is what I live for.
‘This is what I get up in the morning for. I really want us to win this tournament. We still have a job to do, keep our foot on the gas. But very happy now, enjoying this.’
Rory and Erica, who married in 2017 and have a child together in daughter Poppy Kennedy, five, are firmly back on track following a rocky 2024 which at one stage saw the golf star hand his wife divorce papers.
The couple looked to be heading for a split before they later announced it was no longer going ahead in a dramatic U-turn, with McIlroy saying earlier this year that the ordeal was a ‘wake-up call’.
At the time, rumors suggested he was involved in a relationship with CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis – an allegation which has neither been directly addressed or confirmed by either party.
‘There have been rumors about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate,’ McIlroy said at the time. ‘Responding to each rumor is a fool’s game.
‘Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.’
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