The abuse hurled at Rory McIlroy’s wife during the Ryder Cup is tolerated because of the “extraordinary” amount of money generated by wealthy fans, a golf fan has said. 

McIlroy has denounced the "unacceptable and abusive behaviour" of fans in New York towards his wife and said his family should be “off-limits”. 

Despite this, the abuse did not stop Europe scoring a 15-13 victory over the United States. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, golf fan and law lecturer Larry Donnelly described it as a “great performance” by Europe - despite the abuse players and their families faced. 

 “It was appalling - there’s no other way to say it,” he said. 

“I had long feared that this event being held in New York, on Long Island, it was only going to go one way. 

“This sort of heated nonsense around the Ryder Cup, I think it detracts from it. 

“Anyone who loves golf - and I’m one of them - looks at that and says, ‘That’s not what golf is all about. 

“It was deeply shameful for me to watch; my fellow Americans behaving the way that they did, they disgraced themselves to be frank.” 

Rory McIlroy of Europe celebrates a putt during the singles matches on day three of the 2025 Ryder Cup. Picture by: Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile.

Mr Donnelly added that in professional sport, players expect some level of abuse. 

However, he described the venom meted out to players at the Ryder Cup as exceptional and an “ongoing phenomenon”. 

“I don’t like it but that just comes with the territory in the Ryder Cup,” he said.  

“But the things they were saying about Rory McIlroy’s wife - who is an American, by the way - were absolutely horrendous. 

“Talking about difficulties they had in their marriage, all sorts of other really, really awful stuff - she left the golf course on Saturday in tears.”

Mr Donnelly continued that there is one demographic of fans in particular who are to blame for the abuse.  

“It’s men - let’s be frank - wealthy men, people who have a lot of disposable income and they have these weekends away and they just go absolutely bananas,” he said. 

“The drinking starts around six o’clock in the morning and it goes all day long. 

“By the time they get to the event, they’re absolutely twisted and screaming and yelling nonsense.”

The Europe team and captain Luke Donald celebrate with the Ryder Cup. Picture by: Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile. 

Mr Donnelly said their behaviour “doesn’t reflect well on them” but that he believes it is tolerated for one important reason. 

“They’re paying $15, $16 per beer,” he explained. 

“So, the amount of revenue being generated out of this is extraordinary. 

“I’m afraid the organisers play along because they make so much money out of it.” 

McIlroy described his time at the Ryder Cup as a “rough week for all of us” but said that, “We shut them up by our performance."

The Ryder Cup has been contacted for comment.

Main image: Europe captain Luke Donald lifts the Ryder Cup alongside Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy. Picture by: Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile.