RORY MCILROY has predicted an explosive Ryder Cup as the tournament returns to American shores.
The Masters winner was involved in a spat in Rome last time out, rowing with two US caddies.
SplashRory McIlory expects there will be fireworks at the Ryder Cup[/caption]
He was involved in a public spat at the last edition in Rome
GettyTeam Europe Wags have been warned to stay away[/caption]
American fans have developed a reputation for rowdy atmospheres in recent years too and Team USA are looking to avenge their defeat in 2023.
McIlroy, 36, expects there will be fireworks in New York, and warned Team Europe will have to protect one another if they are to make it through the weekend.
He told The Guardian: “I think it’s inevitable something is going to happen in New York.
“It might not involve me but it is inevitable that something will happen, whether like in Rome last time or something else.
“I just think when you go into that environment and you are there for five or six days and the crowd are on you for eight hours, so many days in a row … it is inevitable it will get to someone or get to us as a group at some point.
“We are just going to have to do a really good job of managing that, having each other’s backs and protecting each other.”
McIlory lost his temper in Rome after Patrick Cantlay‘s caddie Joe LaCava celebrated wildly with his hat after his man made a crucial putt.
LaCava then goaded McIlroy before he missed an important putt of his own, resulting in a confrontation between the pair.
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The five-time major winner did not stop there however, clashing with Thomas’ caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay in a car park.
He was heard shouting: “It’s a f***ing disgrace, he can’t get away with it.”
Shane Lowry held his team-mate back then bundled him into the car to go back to the hotel and they enjoyed the last laugh by helping Luke Donald’s men to an emphatic 16 1⁄2 – 11 1⁄2 victory.
The hostile American atmosphere has led Team Europe Wags to be warned to stay away from Bethpage Black.
Former European star Andrew Coltart remembers a frosty reception wives and girlfriends received at the 1999 Ryder Cup.
He said: “My wife wasn’t getting abused because she was back home as she’d just given birth the week before to our first child.
“But some of the other wives and girlfriends had been getting abuse from the crowd.
“It was just normal derogatory things that, unfortunately, you would expect from a group of blokes that probably had too much to drink.
“So for Bethpage Black, I offered up the suggestion that it might not be a great idea to go out there and they can watch it from a room where it’s safe and secure.
“Now I know that’s not what they want, they’ll want to be there with their man or their son to give them support.
“But it potentially can be an atmosphere they will never ever be used to and it could be quite upsetting and challenging for them.
“As a player you deal with these things, but nobody wants their wife or partner to be abused and there’s no way the crowd control and the stewards are going to be able to stop that.”
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