Erica Stoll 'in tears' at Ryder Cup as Rory McIlroy's wife targeted by US crowd

Rory McIlroy's wife Erica Stoll was left in tears at the Ryder Cup after a drink was allegedly thrown at her by rowdy spectators. McIlroy faced relentless heckling from Team USA fans during Saturday's four-ball match with team-mate Shane Lowry. The 36-year-old golfer, who is no stranger to hostile chants and abuse from American spectators, initially responded by sarcastically blowing them kisses.

However, by the fifth hole on day two, his patience had worn thin, and he refused to putt until a minority of American fans quietened down. He was heard saying: "I'm not going to putt until they shut up." Just before concluding the match with an impressive approach shot into the 16th, McIlroy once again stepped off a shot to tell a group of spectators to "shut the f*** up". But the boisterous Bethpage Black crowd escalated their verbal taunts by allegedly throwing a drink at him.

But the drink reportedly hit his wife instead. In one video clip, filmed near the 17th green, a fan can be heard shouting, "Somebody threw a drink at her!", although it's unclear from the footage whether Erica was actually struck.

A viral video shows McIlroy comforting his wife and brushing something off her hat, before seemingly asking: "Are you okay?" The couple then moved away from the spectators, though Stoll kept looking back at the fans.

Following their on-course interviews, McIlroy and Lowry were reported by The 42 to have met their wives on the 18th green. It was here that McIlroy was spotted comforting his tearful wife, Stoll.

McIlroy, whose fourball match ended in a draw, had been enthusiastically supported by 38 year old Stoll. The New Yorker was stylishly dressed in a straw-coloured hat and blouse, accessorised with golf-themed jewellery, including a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch.

Despite the antagonistic crowd, McIlroy confessed he wasn't surprised by their conduct. "I don't mind them having a go at us. Like, that's to be expected," he stated.

"I mean, that's what an away Ryder Cup is. Whenever they are still doing it while you are over the ball and trying to hit your shot, that's the tough thing.

"You know, look, in between shots, say whatever you want to me. That's totally fine. But just let us - you gave us the respect to let us hit shots, and give us the same chance that the Americans have, I guess."

When questioned if he believed the US fans had overstepped the mark, McIlroy replied: "When you play an away Ryder Cup it's really, really challenging. It's not for me to say.

"People can be their own judge whether they took it too far or not. I'm just proud of us for being able to win with what we had to go through."