"The abuse was very bad" - Shane Lowry reflects on hostile Bethpage crowd at Ryder Cup 2025

Shane Lowry has opened up about the abuse he faced from American fans at the 2025 Ryder Cup, saying that the hostility at Bethpage Black went beyond what he had expected. Speaking on RTÉ’s Late Late Show, the Irishman described the atmosphere as intense and uncomfortable, especially during sessions where he played alongside Rory McIlroy.

While Europe celebrated another Ryder Cup victory, Lowry said that the behavior of some home supporters was a major talking point. The 38-year-old admitted that while Team Europe expected a challenging environment, the level of personal abuse crossed a line.

“It was pretty bad. We were ready for what was going to happen but until you’re in that situation you don’t actually realise what it’s going to be like,” Lowry said, via The Irish Sun.

Rather than allowing the noise to affect their performance, Lowry explained that he and McIlroy used the hostility as motivation.

“Some of the stuff that was said was not very nice but Rory and I definitely used it as fuel. It motivated us to go out and win” he added.

Shane Lowry also said that the intensity eased later in the week. He felt the worst of the abuse came during the opening sessions with McIlroy, while his Sunday singles match was noticeably calmer.

“I played the first two days with Rory and then I noticed on the Sunday, when I was playing my [solo] match, I didn’t get as much abuse – which was quite nice. But he had to deal with a lot of stuff over those days,” he said.

The most heated moments came on Saturday when repeated heckling from fans disrupted play. Security was increased near the 10th tee at Farmingdale with police officers stationed nearby to keep the situation under control. McIlroy was forced to step away from shots after fans shouted personal insults and obscenities.

Tensions peaked on the par-4 16th hole when a fan yelled “freedom,” prompting an angry response from McIlroy before he struck an approach shot to inside three feet. Lowry then holed an eagle putt to win the hole and reacted toward the crowd following the earlier disruption.

Shane Lowry reflected on his bond with Rory McIlroy

Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy at the Ryder Cup - Second Day - Source: Imagn

Shane Lowry also spoke about his long-standing friendship with Rory McIlroy, which dates back nearly two decades. The two first met as junior golfers in Ireland and later shared early success while representing the country at the 2007 European Amateur Team Championship.

Lowry explained how that early connection has grown into a close personal relationship. He said, via Belfast Live:

"We've become very close over the last number of years... we live very close to each other in Florida. We do hang out together, we play a lot of golf together, we sit around in the evenings, go to each other's houses for barbeques, it's a nice relationship to have”

Shane Lowry also said being close to McIlroy has helped him professionally.

“I count myself fortunate to be good friends with one of the greatest players that's every played the game, and I get to watch him do his thing and I think really drives me on to be a better golfer.”

Their families are often seen together at events such as the Masters Par-3 Contest, with Lowry noting that his wife Wendy and McIlroy’s wife Erica Stoll are also close and frequently attend events together.

Edited by Hitesh Nigam