The fan abuse at the Ryder Cup – and the PGA of America president Don Rea’s response to it – is the story that simply won’t die.
A number of European players who experienced the harshness of the New York crowds made their way to Scotland for this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which began on Thursday. Among them were Englishmen Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick, both of whom found Rea’s comparison of the US home crowd to the crowd in Rome for the 2023 Ryder Cup laughable.
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There’s a lot you can say about the fans at Bethpage — but I think it’s worth starting at the source.
When the leader of your org says he hasn’t heard much verbal abuse of Rory McIlroy, perhaps there wasn’t much care about it happening pic.twitter.com/qPYGl7Pcr7
— Sean Zak (@Sean_Zak) September 30, 2025
“Personally, I don’t think they were close at all,” Hatton said. “I certainly, with what I heard last week, I don’t think Rome comes anywhere near that. I don’t know what else to add to that. I think they are quite far apart to be honest.”
Fitzpatrick echoed Hatton’s sentiment in his press conference, adding that the European fans are far more creative and lighthearted and don’t resort to personal insults. The former US Open winner said his braces and Skechers shoes were often a target for the loud Long Islanders.
But Fitzpatrick also took issue with something else Rea said that had nothing to do with the crowd. When presenting Europe with the trophy on Sunday evening, Rea used the word “retained” instead of “won,” which is still technically true given the team who won it last “retains” it if they win it again, regardless of score. But you can see how some of the European players’ ears may have perked up in that moment:
Genuine question…
Is it strange the head of the @PGA said that Europe "retained" the Ryder Cup.
Didn't they win it? pic.twitter.com/CV9Mi9dgtY
— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) October 2, 2025
“I don’t want to speak on behalf of everyone but we did feel there was a little bit of bitterness when we got to the – when they presented the trophy there and shook their [hand],” Fitzpatrick said. “I think it was – they can’t control what comes out of everyone’s mouth, there’s no doubt about it.
“Me and Rosey [Justin Rose] both looked at each other as if to say, that wasn’t a very heartfelt congratulations, I know that. And he said we only retained it but actually we won it, so….”
The Ryder Cup pettiness knows no bounds. Cannot believe we have to wait two more years for the next one.
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