Rory McIlroy reveals ‘gracious’ Ryder Cup apology from PGA CEO

The 2025 Ryder Cup ended over a month ago and left the golf world reeling. Hostile crowds hurled insults at Bethpage Black’s European team – especially Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica – marring the event.

A PGA of America director’s dismissive comments about the crowd’s inappropriate behavior sparked further controversy.

But on Wednesday, McIlroy revealed that another PGA manager had a radically different reaction after the Ryder Cup, sending the McIlroys a “gracious” apology. McIlroy also praised the players of the US Ryder Cup team for their behavior in the hostile atmosphere at Bethpage.

Here’s what you need to know.

PGA President Don Rea sparks controversy at the 2025 Ryder Cup

By Sunday morning at the 2025 Ryder Cup, the abuse the European team faced from rowdy fans had already become the story of the tournament. At that point, it was hard to argue that fans had crossed the line.

However, PGA of America president Don Rea was reluctant to take responsibility on behalf of American fans.

Rea was interviewed by the BBC at Bethpage on Sunday, where he tried to dismiss the crowd’s behavior and suggested the European fans were just as bad at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.

“I didn’t hear anything about that – I’m sure it happened,” Rea said when asked about the abuse McIlroy faced during the Ryder Cup. “It happened when we were in Rome on the other side and Rory understands… things like that are going to happen and I don’t know what was said. But all I know is that golf is the engine of good.”

Rea’s comments further infuriated European players and suggested the PGA of America was out of touch with what was happening outside the ropes at Bethpage.

It took the efforts of another PGA executive, CEO Derek Sprague, to calm the waters.

McIlroy says PGA CEO Derek Sprague sent McIlroy an ‘apologetic’ letter

On Wednesday, in an interview with BBC Sport during the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi, McIlroy revealed that he had received a “lovely email” from Sprague apologizing for the terrible treatment the McIlroys faced during the Ryder Cup.

“Erica [McIlroy’s wife] used to work with Derek at the PGA of America, so we know Derek and his wife quite well,” said McIlroy. “He couldn’t have been nicer or more apologetic, and he wrote us a lovely letter, which we really appreciated.”

McIlroy also said he saw the crowd’s abuse as a “compliment” because it showed they felt the need to “get into our heads” to have a chance of winning.

He quickly clarified that he was only talking about the American fans. As for the American players, McIlroy had only good things to say.

“[The U.S. players] were amazing and incredible, and I don’t think they could have been more apologetic for the things they heard on the golf course.”