Rory McIlroy does not want a repeat of the abuse that surrounded him during Europe’s Ryder Cup victory over the United States at Bethpage Black when the 2027 tournament arrives in Ireland.
McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll were repeatedly targeted verbally by spectators who The Europeans won 15-13 on the court in New York in September.
The teams meet again next September at Adare Manor in Limerick and the 36-year-old believes it will be up to him and his team-mates to address any inappropriate behaviour.
Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
See some of the best photos from the 2025 Ryder Cup
Asked if there might be a greater focus on crowd behavior because of what happened at Bethpage, McIlroy said: “It’s up to the home team to set the tone early in the week. If you see something or hear something, you point it out straight away.
“That’s not how the Ryder Cup should be played. It’s not in the spirit of why the Ryder Cup was created in the first place.
“Of course we will do everything we can to ensure that the game and the matches are played in the right spirit.”
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
A look at how Team Europe handled a raucous Bethpage crowd on day two of the Ryder Cup.
Preparing to defend his AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am title, his first PGA Tour event of the year, McIlroy is confident he won’t face a similar reception this time around.
He said: “I’d like to think the Ryder Cup was a one-off and it was because I was on the opposing team. I hope not. It remains to be seen.
“The reception I get in most places I go to play is usually fantastic and I’m very grateful for that. The Ryder Cup was just a one-off.”
McIlroy trails only Scottie Scheffler in the world rankings heading into the tournament, but knows only consistency will help him bridge the gap to world No.1.
He said: “I’ll never stop singing Scottie’s praises because he’s incredible at what he does and the way he does it. I’ve had good runs that way but I’ve always been a bit more up and down.
“Anyone who wants to catch Scottie or come anywhere close is going to have to consistently bring the kind of play week in and week out that he does. He’s really the first since Tiger [Woods] it does this.”
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Take a look back at the best shots from an unforgettable 2025 for McIlroy as he completed a career Grand Slam, won the Ryder Cup and claimed another Race to Dubai trophy
McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose also heads into Pebble Beach in fine form after winning the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in a record 23 under par and the 45-year-old is confident there is more to come.
Asked about his game, Rose said: “I don’t want to overanalyze it, to be honest with you. I just want to keep pushing. I think that’s the main thing I keep pushing.
“I can still get better. I don’t really look at what’s going well, I’m still looking at what could be better, so I’m not very good at celebrating the good things, I’m more into, ‘Why isn’t it as good as it should be?'”
Watch the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am live next Sky Sports Golf from 15.45 on Thursday, with cover also on Sky Sports Main Event from Get Sky Sports or stream without a contract on NOW.