RORY MCILROY showed great sportsmanship by consoling Keegan Bradley’s kids despite being subjected to abuse at the Ryder Cup.
The world No.2 was taunted by American fans over his personal life, with wife Erica Stoll also mocked by spectators.
The world No.2 spoke candidly about the hostile atmosphere after Team Europe’s win[/caption]
He lost his cool once or twice on the course but after Team Europe claimed a famous 15-13 victory he took time to interact with Bradley’s kids.
The Team USA captain’s two boys were at Bethpage Black and McIlroy put his arm around one in a gesture of condolence.
It was a display of the “class and poise” McIlroy remarked on after the win, with the Northern Irishman mostly remaining composed in difficult conditions.
After retaining the Ryder Cup, he made a tongue-in-cheek remark about how the rowdy fans should have been dealt with.
McIlroy said: “I wish they had let the dogs off the leashes.
“The police out there and the amount of security presence was insane.
“Look, nothing was going to happen. There wasn’t going to be physical altercation [but] there was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive behaviour.
“We shouldn’t ever accept that in golf.
“It was a rough week for all of us. But at the same time, we shut them up by our performance and how we played.
“I chirped back a few times because it got to me a few times, but we tried to handle everything that came our way with class and poise, and for the most part, I felt like we did that.”
McIlroy had to deal with shocking heckles about his personal life throughout the weekend – all within earshot of wife Erica.
And he heaped praise on her for showing “class, poise and dignity” after she was verbally and physically assaulted by the horrific New York crowds, including having a beer thrown at her on Saturday.
An emotionally drained McIlroy, who lost his “pillow fight” of a singles match to world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, continued: “It should be off-limits, but obviously it wasn’t this week.
“Erica is fine. She’s a very, very strong woman.
“She handled everything this week with class, poise and dignity like she always has.
“I love her and we’re going to have a good time celebrating tonight.”
