'She Handled Everything This Week With Class And Poise And Dignity Like She Always Has' - Rory And European Teammates Praise Erica McIlroy At Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy's wife was praised by her husband and other members of the European side after she received 'astonishing abuse' at Bethpage Black this weekend

Erica and Rory McIlroy at the 2025 Ryder Cup
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy addressed the abuse he suffered from fans at the Ryder Cup this week in Team Europe's winning press conference.

But it wasn't just the World No.2 that received jibes and offensive comments from small portions of the spectators. His four-ball partner on Saturday afternoon, Shane Lowry, also copped a lot of abuse while McIlroy's wife Erica had a beer thrown at her.

McIlroy was asked about how Erica is after three days of intense spectating and supporting, to which the Northern Irishman and two of his teammates had nothing but praise.

Stoll was said to have received an "astonishing" amount of abuse from fans according to Lowry, with McIlroy's personal life subject to constant cries from certain crowd members at Bethpage.

"It should be off-limits, but obviously it wasn't this week," McIlroy said of his wife.

"Erica is fine. She's a very, very strong woman. You know, she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has.

"I love her and we're going to have a good time celebrating tonight."

Watch the shocking moment fan throws beer at Rory and Erica McIlroy:

"Can I just pick up on that, if you don't mind? Because I actually had no idea that Erica had a beer thrown at her yesterday, so fair play to Erica," Justin Rose interjected.

"She didn't bring that to the team room. We didn't make that a big deal. That's news to me. That says a lot about the strength of Erica and everybody on this team.

Shane Lowry was also quick to stick up for Mrs McIlroy.

"I was out there for two days with Erica McIlroy, and the amount of abuse that she received was astonishing and the way she was out there supporting her husband and supporting her team was unbelievable, and kudos to her for that."

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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