'I was with Ryder Cup fans who insulted Rory McIlroy - his response to it summed him up'

Gianfranco Zola has applauded Rory McIlroy's "gentlemanly" response to Ryder Cup fans after witnessing their abuse first-hand. Team Europe members, particularly McIlroy, faced constant provocation and verbal attacks from US supporters throughout the three-day tournament at Bethpage Black.

The disgraceful behaviour of certain home fans became a major talking point as they crossed the line repeatedly. Despite their attempts to disturb the European stars, they were unsuccessful as McIlroy and his team-mates triumphed 15-13 to retain the trophy. Some of the harsh treatment McIlroy endured included being heckled while preparing to take his shot, booing, an offensive chant from Ryder Cup emcee Heather McMahan which resulted in her stepping down, and a homophobic slur being directed at the Northern Irishman. In addition to that, McIlroy's wife, Erica Stoll, was also continuously targeted by the rowdy crowd with cruel chants, before being hit by a cup of beer at the end of day two, which brought her to tears.

McIlroy at first sarcastically blew kisses at those who jeered him. However, by the fifth hole on day two, his patience had reached its limit, stepping away and declining to putt until a group of American supporters settled down. He was overheard saying: "I'm not going to putt until they shut up."

Moments before securing victory with a brilliant approach shot into the 16th, McIlroy once more stepped away from his shot to tell a group of spectators to "shut the f*** up," and later played a role in getting some fans ejected.

Despite suffering emotionally and mentally, he largely conducted himself with class when faced with such unprecedented behaviour and kept his composure when it counted most. He ended the weekend with a 4-1-0 record, marking his best performance at a Ryder Cup.

That mental resilience was commended by Italian football legend Zola, whose friendship with Team Europe vice-captain Francesco Molinari saw him accept an unlikely role as a designated buggy driver at the biennial tournament in New York. Zola, 59, therefore spent plenty of time with the players and their partners, meaning he saw for himself what McIlroy had to go through.

The former Chelsea star was asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport whether the crowd overstepped the mark with their football stadium-style chants and abuse, to which he responded: "First of all, it must be said that the American players behaved in a gentlemanly manner; I didn't see anything inappropriate.

"Of course, the fans went too far. Maybe that's what they're used to in New York, but golf is different. Some people came to Bethpage too hyped up and then found the wrong way to vent their frustrations with insults and aggression directed mainly at McIlroy, the strongest player. They were afraid."

When it was noted by the interviewer that McIlroy responded brilliantly, Zola added: "Because he's the greatest of them all, he was fantastic, he responded like a gentleman and a champion, as did Shane Lowry, who was playing with him. They were extraordinary. They played brilliantly and at the same time put those fans who had gone too far in their place."

McIlroy himself slammed the appalling behaviour during his post-victory press conference, declaring: "Look, 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 has the ability to unite people. 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. But, we will be making sure to say to our fans in Ireland in 2027 that what happened here this week is not acceptable. Come and support your home team."