The fact that the American Ryder Cup crowd is usually characterized by its rudeness is something that does not escape any golf fan. The atmosphere towards the European team players is frankly hostile in the last editions on American soil, but one thing is what the fans do and quite another what people hired by the organization do, who should keep a minimum of education.
Comedian Heather McMahan had to resign from her job as the tournament’s entertainer after a frankly rude comment unworthy of a professional.
McMahan, who was hired to entertain the crowd at Bethpage Black, apologised and quit her job before the final day of play after she was filmed leading a rude chant against Rory McIlroy on the first tee on Saturday.
The comedian apologized to McIlroy and Ryder Cup Europe for her comments. The PGA of America took 20 hours to address the incident, which occurred before dawn on Saturday, which has cast doubt on its elegance in addressing the incident.
McMahan had been hired to entertain the crowd on the first tee to create atmosphere, and used a megaphone to guide them in their chants. She tried to convince them to join her in a chorus of “Scotty! Scotty! Scheffler!” to the tune of Queen’s We Will Rock You, but was booed and abandoned the attempt.
“F*** you, Rory!” was more popular and became a persistent chant throughout the day. McIlroy responded by blowing kisses to the crowd as he arrived on the tee.
This set the tone for a tense day at Bethpage, when the atmosphere around McIlroy in particular became so toxic that the PGA sent squads of state police to patrol the course midway through the round. Several spectators were ejected.
“I don’t care if they attack us”
McIlroy was the subject of constant abuse and became so exasperated with people shouting during his backswing that, at one point, he turned around and told the crowd to shut up.
The PGA of America repeatedly published warnings about the protocol for spectators on the screens around the course but these were booed on all occasions.McIlroy, who described the atmosphere as “very, very challenging”, won both matches nonetheless.
“I don’t care if they attack us,” the Northern Irish player would say afterwards. “As if it was to be expected. I mean, that’s what a Ryder Cup is like away from home. When they’re still doing it while you’re on the ball trying to hit, that’s the hard part. Look, between shots, tell me what you want. It’s OK. But just respect us and let us hit.”
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