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\n Related: <\/span>Golfer Who Heckled Rory McIlroy Apologizes: \u2018A Mistake\u2019<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tA student golfer who heckled Rory McIlroy has publicly apologized, calling the incident \u201ca mistake.\u201d Luke Potter, a college junior and player on the University of Texas\u2019 golf team, was filmed heckling McIlroy at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, March 11. After McIlroy\u2019s first ball hit water, [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
For Poulter, the behavior of some American golf fans sometimes goes beyond good-natured ribbing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not heckling,\u201d he argued. \u201cIt\u2019s just complete and utter embarrassing stupidity. We don\u2019t get that at The Open Championship \u2026 It\u2019s only in America the stupidness comes out. It\u2019s just so annoying. Our fans are very respectful! I\u2019m not dissing all American fans, but f*** them!\u201d<\/p>\n
Poulter who built his reputation on fiery performances and animated celebrations, added, \u201cI\u2019m not completely dissing the American fans because the atmosphere in America is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Poulter\u2019s comments added fuel to an already charged week. The Ryder Cup, which began Friday, September 26, at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, is notorious for its intense crowds.<\/p>\n
European captain Luke Donald<\/strong> has reportedly prepared his players for the environment by simulating crowd noise during practice sessions through the use of VR headsets.<\/p>\nEuropean players have already been bracing for what\u2019s coming and said as much during their pre-match press conference on Wednesday, September 24th.<\/p>\n
Tommy Fleetwood<\/strong> noted that the only way to deal with the \u201cextreme atmosphere\u201d is to embrace it, while Jon Rahm<\/strong> said fans in New York can come up with chants and heckles that no training exercise can replicate.<\/p>\nMatt Fitzpatrick<\/strong> has already been teased during practice with shouts of, \u201cThe green\u2019s that way,\u201d while American star Collin Morikawa<\/strong> encouraged U.S. fans to \u201cbring chaos\u201d when play begins.<\/p>\nRory McIlroy<\/strong>, one of Europe\u2019s leaders, was heckled while adjusting his shirt on the tee box during practice on Thursday, September 25. A U.S. fan shouted, \u201cYou don\u2019t need a button to choke, Rory!\u201d<\/p>\nMcIlroy and the rest of the Team Europe crew took it well, laughing at the fan and giving him props for a good joke.<\/p>\n
Although Poulter is not part of this year\u2019s team after joining LIV Golf in 2022, his words resonate because of his Ryder Cup legacy.<\/p>\n
European players have already been bracing for what\u2019s coming and said as much during their pre-match press conference on Wednesday, September 24th.<\/p>\n
Tommy Fleetwood<\/strong> noted that the only way to deal with the \u201cextreme atmosphere\u201d is to embrace it, while Jon Rahm<\/strong> said fans in New York can come up with chants and heckles that no training exercise can replicate.<\/p>\n Matt Fitzpatrick<\/strong> has already been teased during practice with shouts of, \u201cThe green\u2019s that way,\u201d while American star Collin Morikawa<\/strong> encouraged U.S. fans to \u201cbring chaos\u201d when play begins.<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy<\/strong>, one of Europe\u2019s leaders, was heckled while adjusting his shirt on the tee box during practice on Thursday, September 25. A U.S. fan shouted, \u201cYou don\u2019t need a button to choke, Rory!\u201d<\/p>\n McIlroy and the rest of the Team Europe crew took it well, laughing at the fan and giving him props for a good joke.<\/p>\n Although Poulter is not part of this year\u2019s team after joining LIV Golf in 2022, his words resonate because of his Ryder Cup legacy.<\/p>\n
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