Several spectators at Bethpage Black during the Ryder Cup were removed from the premises after their heckling of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry intensified on Saturday afternoon.

The harassment aimed at Team Europe’s golfers, particularly McIlroy, has been a persistent issue throughout the weekend in Long Island, New York. However, it escalated during the second day’s four-balls, resulting in several people being expelled.

According to the Daily Mail, additional security measures were implemented swiftly during the match between McIlroy, Lowry, Justin Thomas, and Cameron Young, after McIlroy insisted on halting play until the disruptive behavior was addressed.

Shane Lowry also snapped at a fan, with the unsavory incident caught on camera. It couldn’t be heard what was said to leave the Irishman so angry – or if the insult was aimed at him or McIlroy – but he appeared to be held back by his caddie before pointing the fan out to security. 

Then, as McIlroy drained a putt on 14 to move him and Lowry into the lead, he turned around and yelled ‘f***ing come on’ at the crowd in celebration. As he celebrated, police were even stood around the green with dogs to help maintain order.

Even more police arrived in the following hour, and the Ryder Cup has ‘standby’ officials they are able to send to specific groups if the heckling gets out of hand. And cops told the Daily Mail that they were told also instructed to stay with Bryson Dechambeau’s group due to fears of tension spilling over. DeChambeau and World No 1 Scottie Scheffler were competing against Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.

The Daily Mail also witnessed a police officer telling one fan to ‘quiet the f*** down’ after one particular heckle, and it is understood that some of the shouts at McIlroy and Lowry have included jibes over their wives, families and physical appearance.

Fans have also begun to boo the big screens around Bethpage Black whenever messages are shared warning them about ‘abusive behavior’.

The unsavory atmosphere at Bethpage Black has been gradually increasing since the tournament began on Friday, with McIlroy seen holding up his middle finger to fans as he walked off the course on day one.

Supporters in the grandstand then chanted ‘f*** you, Rory’ to the Northern Irishman when he arrived on the first tee on Saturday morning, only for him to blow kisses in return.

McIlroy then bit back again during the foursomes a few hours later, shouting ‘Guys, shut the f*** up’ after jeers continued while he was trying to play a shot.

The tension coincides with Europe strengthening their lead on Saturday morning, moving 8.5-3.5 ahead of the United States just 30 miles outside of Manhattan.

Ahead of the tournament, families of players on both sides chose to stay away from the event due to fears of things getting nasty in the crowd.

Matt Fitzpatrick said his parents were skipping the competition, explaining: ‘They didn’t have a great experience in Whistling Straits (in 2021). That’s not a lie or anything or making anything up.

‘It’s a lot of travel, it’s obviously a busy week. It’s a tiring week. And then they obviously want to have a nice week as well.

‘No denying that they had a bad experience in the past, but there’s no reason why it has to be like that this time. Obviously I’ll miss them this week for sure, but they are doing what’s best for them, and that’s what’s important.’

Fitzpatrick was competing alongside Tyrell Hatton on Saturday afternoon, against USA’s Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay. 

Xander Schauffle’s father Stefan said he is missing the event in part because of crowd trouble and also because of Rory McIlroy’s infamous clash with Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava in Rome, in the parking lot of the golf course.

‘I’m afraid of what’s going to happen in New York,’ he said. ‘I was there [at Whistling Straits] when they called Shane Lowry’s wife a w**** in front of him. I couldn’t believe my ears.

‘Then I saw what happened in Rome. That was utterly disgusting claiming this money bull—- and Rory [McIlroy] behaved disgustingly in my opinion. It’s only going to get worse. It’s ruined my appetite for the Ryder Cup. It becomes unwatchable.’

More to follow.