Rory McIlroy says 2025 Ryder Cup is being remembered for ‘wrong reasons’

Europe’s domination at the 2025 Ryder Cup should have been the biggest takeaway from that late September week at Bethpage Black – not the rowdy spectators who stole the headlines.

That’s according to Rory McIlroy, who was on the receiving end of the merciless heckles from fans, with wife Erica Stoll becoming collateral damage in the chaos at the Long Island course.

“I’ve been following the sort of narrative coming out of the Ryder Cup just like everyone else, but unfortunately, I think it takes away from what we should be focused on is what an incredible performance it was by the European team,” McIlroy said Wednesday ahead of this week’s DP World India Championship.

“The Americans would hit it close, we would hit it closer. The Americans would hole a putt, we’d hole a putt on top of them and it just happened every single time.”

Rory McIlroy wants to shift the narrative away from the drama and back to Team Europe’s dominance at Bethpage. 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/WLRyWjNZMa

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) October 15, 2025

It was the exemplary performances from McIlroy, 36, and his European teammates that helped secure a 15-13 victory over the Americans, something he wishes to “shift the narrative” back to, given fans are looking back on this year’s international clash “for the wrong reasons.”

“Just over the last two weeks, being able to watch the highlights and just see, especially those first two days and the foursomes and the four-balls, just how good the European team were,” McIlory said.

“The Americans would hit it close, we would hit it closer. The Americans would hole a putt, we’d hole a putt on top of them, and it just happened every single time. And I think the unfortunate thing is, it seems like people aren’t remembering that. They’re remembering the week for the wrong reasons. So, I’d like to shift the narrative a little bit and just focus on how good the Europe team was and how proud I was to be part of that team to win an away Ryder Cup.”

McIlroy endured the brunt of the taunts last month, telling hecklers at one point to “shut the f–k up.” The reigning Masters champion also told a course referee he wouldn’t putt until the crowd “shut up.”

The drama boiled over on the second day, when a drink appeared to strike Stoll.

McIlroy later praised his wife of eight years for how she handled the unruly crowd.

“[Family] should be off limits, but obviously it wasn’t this week,” he said. “Erica is fine. She is a very strong woman and she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has. I love her and we’re going to have a good time celebrating tonight.”

Stoll has supported McIlroy at various tournaments following the five-time major champion’s divorce reversal in June 2024.

They are parents to 5-year-old daughter Poppy.

The 2027 Ryder Cup will take place in Ireland.