Tag:

Ryder

bitchy | The Ryder Cup devolved into chaos as Americans made asses out of themselves
Celebrity News

bitchy | The Ryder Cup devolved into chaos as Americans made asses out of themselves

by jummy84
written by jummy84

I’m not a golf person, and the only reason why I knew that the Ryder Cup was happening in recent days was because tennis people were talking about it! The Ryder Cup is the tournament where European pro-golfers are on the same team, facing off against a team of American pro-golfers. This year’s Ryder Cup was staged in America. Team Europe won, but they had one of the worst experiences of their lives because they had to deal with the most toxic American crowd in golf history. The Americans were especially nasty to Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica. Americans even threw a beer at Erica. Disgusting.

After a weekend of absolute bedlam at Bethpage, the dust is settling on an extraordinary Ryder Cup competition. The headline is that Europe pulled off a stunning victory on foreign soil, a win that was at times breathtaking and breathless, exhilarating and excruciating in equal measure. The American team was in danger of complete humiliation, but on Sunday the US golfers managed to recover and almost pulled off what would have been arguably the greatest comeback in sports.

There was so much to celebrate and yet, once all the champagne spray has dried, there is still a bitter taste in the mouth. Many of the European players were subjected to dreadful abuse from the galleries, unprintable vulgarities and some deeply personal insults. Rory McIlroy was the lightning rod for the invective, and so was his wife.

“I was out there for two days with Erica McIlroy, and the amount of abuse that she received was astonishing,” said Irishman Shane Lowry. “And the way she was out there supporting her husband and supporting her team was unbelievable.”

The situation around McIlroy’s group on Saturday afternoon became so intense that police officers with dogs were brought onto the course for protection.

“I wish they had let the dogs off the leashes,” quipped McIlroy, who admitted that he engaged with the fans on the occasions when it all became too much. A viral video from the 18th hole on Saturday morning shows McIlroy turning to the fans and telling them to “Shut the f**k up!” He then composed himself and dispatched his approach to within two feet of the pin. It was “very f**king satisfying,” he joked.

McIlroy made light of it in his team’s moment of glory, but he won’t gloss over the abuse that he and his wife were subjected to; a beer was even thrown at her in the Saturday four-balls.

“The police out there and the amount of security presence was insane,” he said. “Nothing was going to happen, there wasn’t going to be a physical altercation, but there was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive.”

McIlroy was at pains to state that it was only a minority of the fans who were out of line, but their behavior certainly left a mark on what was otherwise a wonderful sporting occasion.

“It should be off-limits,” he said, “But obviously it wasn’t this week. Erica is fine. She’s a very, very strong woman. You know, she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has. I love her.”

Ryder Cups are known to be rowdy, and the home team counts on the support of their fans. Questions will now be asked about whether the host team played a role in fomenting the aggression. On the eve of the tournament, Collin Morikawa called for “chaos” and the event’s master of ceremonies, Heather McMahan, stepped down on Sunday after she had led the fans in a chant of “f**k you Rory” with a live microphone.

[From CNN]

Rightly or wrongly, I’ve always had the sense that the American golf community is overwhelmingly Republican. This Ryder Cup situation backs up that belief – this is the Trumpification of American culture in real time. The pettiness and nastiness, the coarsening of culture. Where Americans think it’s perfectly acceptable to throw a beer at a golfer’s wife and scream obscenities at European golfers. It’s not “heckling” and it’s not a matter of the Europeans needing a thicker skin. The American fans were absolutely in the wrong here.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
What Happened Before Ryder Cup? – Hollywood Life
Hollywood

What Happened Before Ryder Cup? – Hollywood Life

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Image Credit: PGA TOUR

Pro golfer Jake Knapp is grieving the loss of his late girlfriend, Makena White, who died shortly before the September 2025 Ryder Cup, which Knapp is not competing in. White was just 28. A friend of White’s shared the devastating news of her death to her Instagram page on September 26, 2025.

“Hi everyone – this is Makena’s friend, writing with the heaviest heart to share that Makena passed away earlier this week,” the caption read. “She is already so deeply missed by her dad, her family, her friends, and of course by Nelly and Fergie.”

Calling White “one of a kind,” her friend added that she “had this rare way of making you feel special, and her huge heart was always overflowing with love.”

“To be loved by Makena was a gift; one that came with endless laughter, so much joy, and a healthy sprinkling of chaos as we tried to keep up with her travel schedule.”

CBS Sports course reporter Amanda Balionis commented her condolences under the Instagram post. She wrote, “Getting to know Makena was one of my favorite parts of this last year. So much laughter, passion and she never met a stranger. I will miss her light… it touched so many.”

Below, we break down what we know so far about White, her relationship with Knapp and her untimely death.

Who Was Makena White?

White, an Ottawa, Ontario, native, reportedly worked in surgical sales, providing equipment to vascular and cardiac surgeons. She studied communications and software engineering at McMaster University, per Daily Mail.

While her appreciation for golf grew thanks to her boyfriend, White was also an avid Ottawa Senators hockey fan.

How Long Was Jake Knapp Dating Makena White?

Knapp and White started dating sometime in 2023, but she didn’t make it Instagram official until the following year with a cheeky post.

“Does it still count as a hard launch if NBC saw it first?” White captioned her post in March 2024 alongside a photo of her and the golfer.

During their time together, White regularly shared supportive Instagram messages and sweet pictures of her boyfriend, playfully including the term, “Knapp time,” in some of her captions.

What Happened to Makena White? What We Know About Her Tragic Death

White’s cause of death has not been disclosed at the time of publication. Her friend’s Instagram note pointed out that supporters could donate to two organizations that focus on brain health.

“If you would like to honour Makena’s memory, donations to the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic or the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund would mean a lot,” the Instagram caption read. “We love you Mak. We’ll miss you always, and we’ll be looking for you in the sunset.”

The Griffin Bell Endowment Fund was created to honor a child named Griffin Bell, who died of neuroblastoma in 2024; Bruyère is a clinic in White’s hometown, Ottawa, Canada, that specializes in cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Naturally, fans wondered if the mentions of the clinic and fund indicated that White had a brain impairment, illness or an injury. However, the details of her health have not been made public. Speculation surrounding her death is baseless.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Five rookies who will decide the Ryder Cup 2025 – and what their teammates think of them
TV & Streaming

Five rookies who will decide the Ryder Cup 2025 – and what their teammates think of them

by jummy84
written by jummy84

The performance of rookies is a key factor at any Ryder Cup but given the general wisdom is that this could be the tightest contest in years, it is no stretch to suggest that the five first-timers will decide who is celebrating on Sunday.

But who are the Team Europe and Team USA rookies? And what do their respective teammates think of them?

Team Europe

Rasmus Højgaard

Rasmus Højgaard. Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

It speaks to the continuity of Team Europe that the only change from their victory two years ago sees rookie Rasmus Højgaard replace his twin Nicolai.

The 24-year-old is the youngest player at the Ryder Cup 2025 but has more experience than most debutants. The Dane was part of the team in Rome, where he drove his brother and vice-captain Thomas Bjorn’s buggy – a move that now looks something of a masterstroke.

Højgaard, who earned his place by finishing fifth in the European qualification standings, is the lowest player on the World Rankings (58) outside LIV Golf star John Rahm. He’s long off the tee, which should suit Bethpage Black, but his short game and inconsistent putting are a concern.

Already a five-time winner on the DP World Tour, the Team Europe rookie has sky-high potential and will likely be paired with one of their veterans on Friday or Saturday. That could well be Shane Lowry, who outlined his faith in him when he offered Højgaard some advice ahead of his debut.

Speaking on ‘Why Golf’ podcast, Lowry said: “Just be himself. Don’t try and be anyone else, just be yourself. No matter how you are feeling, everyone else is feeling like that too. No matter how nervous you feel on the first tee, the guy standing beside you is feeling that too.

“You have to remember that is the reason you play golf and this is what it is all for.”

Team USA

JJ Spaun

J.J. Spaun, in white, blue and red striped Team USA golf gear and a white cap, hits a golf shot at the Ryder Cup.

JJ Spaun. Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images

JJ Spaun may well be pinching himself on the first tee at Bethpage Black. The Californian lost his PGA Tour card in 2021 and considered retirement last year after a poor start to the season but has enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2025, which included winning the US Open with a 64-foot birdie putt on the 18th green and finishing second in the Team USA qualification standings.

He has climbed from 115th to sixth in the World Rankings this season on the back of his sparkling approach play, which is among the best on the PGA Tour, and the resilience that comes with being a long-time journeyman before reaching recent heights.

At 35, Spaun knows his game inside out but has admitted that he never believed he would play in a Ryder Cup – a mindset that could prove to be a blessing or a curse when the pressure really cranks up. Still, he has the backing of his compatriots and, in particular, Justin Thomas.

He revaled: “I’ve talked to JT quite a bit, and he’s like, ‘You earned your spot on this team; don’t feel like this is a handout or a pick. You have a major that a lot of us are very jealous of, and you deserve to be on this team.’

“I think hearing that has helped me feel like I fit in more as a core player than a rookie that is just trying to make some sort of impact. So I think that’s huge for my confidence.”

Russell Henley

Russell Henley, in white, red and blue striped Team USA golf gear and a white cap, smiles as he walks next to Scottie Scheffler.

Russell Henley (right) is expected to be paired with Scottie Scheffler (left). Photo by Jared C Tilton/Getty Images Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

It’s not hard to see why Russell Henley flies under the radar – he is understated, he doesn’t hit bombs or have a particularly aesthetic swing – but 10 top-10 finishes this year, including two at majors and a victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational have seen him rise to third in the World Rankings and establish himself as one of the most consistent golfers on the planet.

Bethpage Black’s length could be an issue for him as, while accurate, he is the shortest hitter on Team USA and at the 45th Ryder Cup.

Henley has team match play experience, having proved a successful partner to Scottie Scheffler during last year’s President’s Cup triumph, and it would be no surprise to see him paired with the World No. 1 again this weekend.

The 36-year-old, the oldest player on Team USA despite being a rookie, may not strike fear into the hearts of the Europeans but his consistency could make him a key player for captain Keegan Bradley, who feels he is made for the Ryder Cup.

Bradley said: “I saw firsthand what Russell is capable of in team match play at last year’s Presidents Cup. He is a fierce competitor and built to shine on the Ryder Cup stage. I am pumped to have him as a member of our team and know he will bring his best in September.”

Ben Griffin

Ben Griffin, in red, white and blue Team USA golf gear, a white cap and sunglasses, hits a drive at the Ryder Cup.

Ben Griffin. Photo by Jared C Tilton/Getty Images Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

What a year it has been for Ben Griffin. Four years on from quitting golf to work for a mortgage company, the 29-year-old was named among Keegan Bradley’s captain’s picks on the back of a brilliant breakthrough season.

Griffin has claimed his first two PGA Tour wins among 11 top 10 finishes to rise to 11th in the World Rankings and fifth on Data Golf‘s strokes gained index – the metric many feel is the best way to measure golfing performance.

What he lacks in distance off the tee, ‘Benny Booms’ makes up for with his scintillating short game and aggressive mindset, which could make him a handful for Team Europe.

Griffin is hard to miss due to his aviator-style sunglasses, which has worn since midway through last year due to seeing ‘floaters’ after having laser eye surgery to save his sight.

He has a big supporter in World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who waxed lyrical about his Team USA teammate after edging him out at the Procore Championship earlier this month.

Scheffler said: “I think Ben (Griffin) always had the belief that he was going to be out here. I don’t know if he was an accountant or (loan mortgage officer) for that long.

“When you talk to Ben. He’s a guy that has a lot of confidence, he’s got a lot of self-belief. That’s what we love about him being a part of our Ryder Cup team.

He added: “I was fortunate to be the winner this week, but (Griffin’s) going to bounce back. I’m excited that he’s going to be on my team in a couple weeks. I’m excited that I don’t have to play against him.”

Cameron Young

Cameron Young, in white, red and blue striped Team USA golf gear and a white cap, hits a golf shot at the Ryder Cup 2025.

Cameron Young. Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America via Getty Images Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America via Getty Images

No player will be more popular with the Bethpage Black crowd than Cameron Young. Not only was the New Yorker born less than 60 miles from the course, he also won the New York State Open there in 2015 – becoming the first amateur to do so.

One of Team USA’s captain’s picks, Young battled his way into Keegan Bradley’s thinking courtesy of a late-season surge. He has had six top-ten finishes since the end of June, including his first PGA Tour title at Wyndham Championship last month and a tied fourth-place finish at the US Open earlier this summer.

The 28-year-old is one of the best putters in the game at the moment – ranking fifth for strokes gained putting on the PGA Tour – and that could see him sent out in the foursomes on both Friday and Saturday, perhaps alongside fellow aggressive big-hitter Bryson DeChambeau.

Young is known as a fairly reserved player but Team USA teammate Collin Morikawa is hoping that the passion of the Ryder Cup could unlock a fire inside him.

“I would love to see Cam Young just throw a massive fist pump in someone’s face,” he said. “I would love it. I mean, home state, home crowd, red, white and blue, played on the Junior Ryder Cup.

“He’s a fiery competitor. I’ve known Cam for a long time. He’s been very stoic, right. We’re deep competitors. Whether you see that or not through the TV or through watching us play, he wants to whoop some butt.

“Yeah, I would love to see a nice little putter raise, undercut, fist-pump.”

Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail