Rory McIlroy branded 'hypocrite' by major champion as he's slammed for x-rated outburst at Ryder Cup fans
Rory McIlroy has been branded a 'hypocrite' by former PGA Champion Paul Azinger, who has taken aim at the Northern Irishman for his behaviour at the Ryder Cup
Former major champion Paul Azinger has criticised Rory McIlroy for his conduct at this year's Ryder Cup. McIlroy faced relentless abuse from spectators at Bethpage Black this week, becoming embroiled in several confrontations with American supporters throughout the three days of competition.
During Europe's triumphant post-victory press conference, McIlroy questioned the extent of abuse directed at European players, arguing that such heckling had no place in the sport of golf.
Former PGA Champion Azinger believes McIlroy's own conduct requires scrutiny, suggesting the Northern Irishman displayed hypocrisy in his remarks given his involvement in multiple heated exchanges with American fans.
"Today in the press conference he said 'I think golf should be held to a higher standard of decorum. But in the meantime he says 'f-you, f-you, f-you' in full voice for the world to see," Azinger said on the Subpar YouTube show, reports the Irish Mirror.
"He turns around and says to the guy 'shut the f up'. The guy in the media today asks him 'how did it feel Rory to tell the guy to shut the f up and then hit it to two feet' and he said 'it felt pretty f-ing good.'".
"And I'm like, which is it Rory? Is it that golf is held to a higher standard or are you just gonna f you the fans and act like that's ok?".
McIlroy endured appalling abuse throughout the week, with his wife, Erica, also becoming a target, leading him to argue that such behaviour shouldn't be tolerated in golf. "I wish they had let the dogs off the leashes," McIlroy expressed in a press conference after Europe managed to fend off an impressive United States comeback to secure the trophy 15-13 on Sunday.
"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 or anything like that – but there was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive behaviour.
"It's a minority of the crowd, it's not the majority. The majority of people here are true golf fans and are respectful, but I don't think we should ever accept that in golf.
"I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.
"Golf teaches you very good life lessons, it teaches you etiquette, it teaches you how to play by the rules, it teaches you how to respect people.
"Sometimes this week we didn't see that. So no, this should not be what is acceptable in the Ryder Cup."