From Shane Lowry being called “Tellitubby”, Rory McIlroy getting teased about Amanda Balionis, to even Erica Stoll getting beer tossed on her, let’s just say the crowd in New York did their best to try and infuriate the European players. Whether it was their frustration about Team U.S. playing badly, or trying to help the American side in any way they could, it’s not clear. But their plan definitely didn’t work. Either way, Tommy Fleetwood understands the situation and has forgiven them for the heckling.
At least that is what he claimed during the press conference preceding the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. A reporter inquired about the Englishman’s experience at the 2025 Ryder Cup and if he expects the same at Adare Manor. Fleetwood told the media, “I don’t know. There’s a big difference between — like there’s a big difference between a hostile environment and personal comments. Again, I think we were all prepared for it.”
Luke Donald had helped the team prepare for the abuse they might face at Bethpage. Rory McIlroy had mentioned that the Team Europe captain had distributed VR headsets that had recordings of the possible spectator interactions in New York. The English veteran wanted to ensure the players were desensitized against the abuse before they played on the course, so when they do get into action, they can focus on their game. That is probably how Fleetwood & Co. were prepared for it.
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The 2025 TOUR Championship winner also said, “It’s not — of all the talk that there’s been, it’s not about the entire U.S. fans or the crowd. Like I don’t think that we should be sort of using that as a whole. I have so many friends that are Americans and that were at the Ryder Cup, people close to me, saying, I’ve got to support my own team, things like that. That’s just what it is. You’re going to get a tough environment when you get to an away Ryder Cup.”
“Yeah, personal comments can go too far, and you obviously hope that that doesn’t happen again, or it shouldn’t happen. But it’s just so out of our control, and I think Keegan and — you just have to understand what you’re getting into and what you’re there for and go play golf. Like I say, how many people were there? 50,000 people? 60,000 people? You can’t have a go at everyone because the majority don’t do that. I have no hard feelings about it at all.”