'Not A Good Look For Golf' - Ian Poulter On 'Ugly' Ryder Cup Scenes

The Ryder Cup legend says the game of golf lost on Saturday at Bethpage Black, where fan behavior stole the headlines

Ian Poulter wearing a sky blue polo and white visor during a LIV Golf tournament
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Tensions spilled over on Saturday at the Ryder Cup as crowd abuse towards Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry crossed the line - and European legend Ian Poulter says that the "game of golf lost."

Poulter is not at the Ryder Cup for the second consecutive edition after joining LIV Golf in 2022 but he knows a thing or two about playing away against partisan US crowds.

In fact, earlier this week a SportBible video emerged of him calling some US fan behavior in the past as "complete and utter embarrassing stupidity."

Poulter is watching at home this week and gave a strong verdict on what he saw on Saturday at Bethpage - and his comments will mirror what many European golf fans feel.

"I've been quiet on social and just observing the Ryder Cup matches," he wrote on Instagram.

"NY was always going to be a load intense battle. My hope would have been for this have been played out without some altercations and just pure passion from the crowd.

"It's over spilled and now become ugly and is not a good look for golf. This unfortunately was always going to happen.

"Team Europe have held their cool so well under such conditions. This is a blood bath.

"The Game of golf lost today. The consolation is that Europe won on the day."

Two screenshots of Ian Poulter's Instagram story criticizing the Ryder Cup 'ugly' scenes

(Image credit: Instagram: ianjamespoulter)

Europe dominated proceedings once again to win their fourth consecutive session - something that an away side has never previously achieved in Ryder Cup history.

Luke Donald's team is also the first since 1979 to reach 11.5 points prior to singles.

The Sunday Singles will be led out by the match between Cameron Young and Justin Rose, with Europe only requiring three points to win the Ryder Cup or 2.5 points to retain the trophy.

The 2025 Ryder Cup will be remembered for one of the greatest team performances of all time, but it will also be remembered for the ugly scenes on Saturday.

Let's hope respect and dignity can be restored on Sunday.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, X and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

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