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Rory McIlroy says PGA of America chief executive Derek Sprague personally apologized for the abuse directed at him and his wife during Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage Black and that the gesture helped close the book on what had been a bruising week.
“I got a lovely e-mail from Derek Sprague apologizing,” McIlroy told BBC Sport ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. “Erica worked with Derek at the PGA of America back in the day, so we know Derek and his wife pretty well. He couldn’t have been more gracious or apologetic and he wrote us a lovely letter, which we really appreciated.”
A beer hurled from the stands struck his wife Erica’s hat during the fiery three-day contest, in which McIlroy became a lightning rod for a raucous home crowd. “I take it as a compliment that they targeted me, but then at the same time, it was a tough week,” he said. “That made us better as a team. It galvanised us and it really put our arms around each other.”
While USA captain Keegan Bradley declined to condemn the “passionate” New York fans, McIlroy said the experience ultimately strengthened Europe’s resolve en route to their narrow victory.
Now preparing for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, the four-time major winner reflected on what he called a career-defining campaign. “I think back to the start in January of 2025 when I was last here and everything that’s happened since,” McIlroy said. “Honestly, in my wildest dreams, I didn’t know. I mean, I knew a year like this was possible, but it has just been an amazing 10 months.”
McIlroy also weighed in on LIV Golf’s decision to expand to 72-hole events beginning in 2026, a change widely seen as a bid for Official World Golf Ranking points. “I think it’s a peculiar move because I think they could have got ranking points with three rounds,” he said. “I don’t think three rounds versus four rounds is what was holding them back.
“It certainly puts them more in line with traditional golf tournaments … but if that’s what they felt they needed to do to get the ranking points, I guess that’s what they had to do.”
Yet McIlroy doubts the switch will significantly boost LIV players’ standings. “Say potentially they get world rankings points, but because their strength of fields are going to be so weak because a lot of the guys have fallen already in the rankings … I don’t know if the ranking points are really going to benefit them,” he said. “It will be interesting to see how it plays out.”
