U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy is back in New York. So are the fans who love to hate him

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — The last time Rory McIlroy played before fans on Long Island, it got ugly. Really ugly. Cursing, beer-throwing ugly. 

That was the Ryder Cup last September, and you might remember how that turned out. New York fans thought it was a good idea to insult, belittle and attack the wife of one of the most eye-for-an-eye players in the game. 

McIlroy and Team Europe had their revenge, winning on American soil, but the damage was done. The over-the-top blathering of a subset of New York fans stained the entire 2025 Bethpage Ryder Cup, along with the reputations (and, in part, the jobs) of many involved in the effort from the American side. 

Given that Shinnecock is only about an hour or so east of Bethpage, and that many of the same fans who were shouting themselves raw critiquing McIlroy's parentage and Shane Lowry's waistline will be in attendance this week, it's reasonable to wonder if he's concerned about fan behavior. McIlroy wisely opted for flattery rather than criticism. 

"I love playing around New York," he said Tuesday morning. "I love playing in this area. It's got some of the best golf in the world." 

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He's not wrong about that, but also, he can afford to be magnanimous after coming here and planting his flag on American turf. He doesn't expect this week's U.S. Open to have the same kind of patriotic vitriol as the last time he was here. 

"The Ryder Cup is us-versus-them, very partisan," he said. "It's just a different beast."

McIlroy wraps any lingering frustrations in a warm cocoon of eff-you. "Was it a rough week for me at times? Absolutely. But it is what it is," he said. "If that's a price to pay to live the life that I'm living, then I'm OK with that."

Chances are he's right; the New York fans will likely embrace him. For one thing, they're softened up from the Knicks' victory, and for another, McIlroy is a counterpuncher, which they respect. Unless, of course, we get into a situation where it's McIlroy versus an American like Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka or adopted local boy Cam Young. Then it could get ugly all over again. 

McIlroy has been known to get a little salty at fans, particularly when his round isn't going well. Just last month at the PGA Championship, he pointed out a fan who chanted "U-S-A!" when McIlroy struggled at Aronimink, and he hasn't been shy about getting in the faces of fans who come at him. But for now, he's playing nice. 

"New York is New York, and they're going to make their voices heard, but that's a good thing," he said. "That's a good atmosphere to play in."

Of course, that's what he's saying right now. We'll see how his head is if Shinnecock pummels him later this week.