Tom Watson, the American golfing legend, has apologised to Europe's Ryder Cup team for the behaviour of spectators at Bethpage Black, saying he was 'ashamed' of what occurred. The European team's 15-13 victory was overshadowed by abusive conduct towards visiting players and their families, including an incident where Rory McIlroy's wife was hit by a thrown beer.
Watson, an eight-time major winner and former US captain, posted on X: 'I'd like to congratulate Europe on their victory. Your team play the first few days was sensational. More importantly, I'd like to apologise for the rude and mean-spirited behaviour from our American crowd at Bethpage. As a former player, captain and as an American I am ashamed of what happened.' He also relayed his apology directly to the European team.
Watson's comments contrast sharply with those of the 2025 US team. Collin Morikawa had encouraged fans to bring 'chaos', while captain Keegan Bradley stopped short of condemning the situation despite police and dogs lining the fairways. McIlroy, who faced vehement abuse, said: 'I don't think we should ever accept that in golf.'
European captain Luke Donald, who led the team to victory, had sought advice from tennis players including Ivan Lendl on handling the New York crowd. Donald praised his team's ability to overcome 'one of the toughest environments in all of sport'. The victory means Europe are likely to favour Donald for future captaincy roles, with a third term not ruled out.
The win was Europe's first on US soil since 2012, sparking wild celebrations. Meanwhile, speculation continues over the next US captain, with Tiger Woods widely expected to succeed Bradley, though his absence from Bethpage has raised questions.
