Ryder Cup crowd announcer steps down over expletive-filled Rory McIlroy chant

A crowd announcer at the Ryder Cup has stood down after leading an expletive-filled chant about Rory McIlroy.

Heather McMahan urged fans at the first tee to shout “f***you Rory” together after players were introduced to the crowd before the start of the afternoon session at Bethpage Black on Saturday.

It was one of a number of unsavoury incidents on a fractious, fraught day of action overshadowed by crowd problems and set the tone for a lot of the treatment McIlroy subsequently received.

McMahan was not the main announcer at the event but was entertaining the crowd.

A statement from the PGA of America, the event organisers, read: “Heather McMahan has extended an apology to Rory Mcllroy and Ryder Cup Europe and has stepped down from hosting the first tee of the Ryder Cup.”

European captain Luke Donald accused American fans of “crossing the line” after his players, most notably McIlroy, were subjected to heckling, with comments repeatedly aimed at the Northern Irishman as he prepared to play shots.

At one point in the morning McIlroy shouted at a fan and his afternoon match was held up a number of times as appeals for calm – some from opponent Justin Thomas – were made.

Donald said: “It was loud, it was raucous.

“What I consider crossing the line is personal insults and making sounds when they are trying to hit on their backswings or very close to when they are trying to go into their routines. That did happen a little bit.”

The PGA of America did not comment when asked by the PA news agency about reports of further disturbances, including fighting, in the crowd.

Much had been made of the hostile reception Europe were likely to be given by a boisterous, partisan New York crowd.

McIlroy and partner Shane Lowry heard much of