After starting with four pars, Lowry – who is without an individual victory since September 2022 – carded back-to-back birdies at the fifth and sixth holes.
The former Open champion vaulted into a share of the lead with a run of five straight birdies from the par-four 11th before picking up a shot at the last to edge ahead of Nakajima.
“It’s not that hard when you hit it in play out there, but you start missing fairways it becomes quite tricky, so I’m happy with that,” said Lowry.
He added: “You need to shape it around the course, hit it in position off the tee and it’s all about your iron play. That’s one of my strengths and I took advantage of that today and managed to roll a few putts in on the back nine, which was nice.”
Lowry added there was a “little bit” of Ryder Cup chat with playing partners Fleetwood and Donald.
“We could hear the horns from the road, it was not as off-putting as the Bethpage [Black] crowd,” he said with a smile, referring to the hostile New York fans at last month’s Ryder Cup.
Fleetwood mixed four birdies, an eagle and two bogeys to sit four shots back.
Donald, who is playing his first tournament since his second Ryder Cup success as captain, carded five birdies and a bogey to match fellow Englishman Fleetwood and 2023 Open champion Brian Harman.
Playing with McIlroy, US Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin opened with a 68 while McIlroy’s European team-mate Viktor Hovland signed for a 71.
Europe’s victory at Bethpage Black was McIlroy’s sixth in eight Ryder Cups and second in America after 2012’s memorable triumph at Medinah.
Speaking on Tuesday, Donald – who also led Europe to their 2023 win in Rome – said McIlroy would make a “good captain”, but the world number two does not expect to take the reins until the “mid-2030s”.
“Certainly not 2027 [at Adare Manor in Ireland],” he said.
“I hope I’m still playing at that point. But yeah, I would love to be the European team captain at some point.
“But that will be beyond my playing days, or at least when my playing days are coming to an end and I’m not good enough to make the team, or I make way for the new generation to come along.
“Hopefully that’s not in 2027. Hopefully, I’m still good enough to play and put points on the board for Europe.”
McIlroy is returning to action at the DP World Tour’s India Championship – a new tournament – alongside Ryder Cup team-mates Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland.
Grouped with Hovland and US Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin, McIlroy begins Thursday’s first round at Delhi Golf Club at 02:55 BST
Rory McIlroy hadn’t even left the practice range last Friday morning when a small section of fans at the Ryder Cup started a profane chant aimed at his image on a video screen at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y.
The verbal abuse and other inappropriate behavior directed toward McIlroy and his European teammates worsened as the weekend went on. At one point Saturday a cup of beer sailed out of the crowd and hit the brim of a hat worn by McIlroy’s wife, Erica Stoll, who was walking next to her husband.
The poor treatment didn’t prevent Team Europe from claiming a 15-13 win over the U.S. Afterward, McIlroy told reporters, “What happened here this week is not acceptable” and “I think golf should be held to a higher standard than than what was was seen out there this week.”
Derek Sprague, chief executive of PGA of America, told the Athletic this week that he had apologized to McIlroy and Stoll in an email.
Comedian Heather McMahan, who served as a morning emcee on the first two days of the Ryder Cup, also apologized this week for participating in a profane chant toward McIlroy.
And on Thursday — several days after he had seemingly trivialized the boorish fan behavior at the Ryder Cup by likening it to that of attendees at youth soccer games — PGA of America president Don Rea Jr. finally apologized in an email to the organization’s 30,000-plus members.
PGA of America president Don Rea Jr. speaks during a news conference at the PGA Championship in May.
(Matt York / Associated Press)
“Let me begin with what we must own. While the competition was spirited — especially with the U.S. team’s rally on Sunday afternoon — some fan behavior clearly crossed the line,” Rea wrote in the email, which was viewed by the Associated Press. “It was disrespectful, inappropriate, and not representative of who we are as the PGA of America or as PGA of America golf professionals. We condemn that behavior unequivocally.”
It was a different tone from the one Rea took Sunday when the BBC asked him about the unruly behavior of fans.
“Well, you’ve got 50,000 people here that are really excited, and heck, you could go to a youth soccer game and get some people who say the wrong things,” Rea said. “We tell the fans, booing at somebody doesn’t make them play worse. Typically, it makes them play better. And when our American players have to control the crowds, that distracts them from playing. So our message today to everybody who’s out here is, cheer on the Americans like never before, because that’ll always get them to play better and get them out of crowd control and let them perform.”
Asked specifically about the verbal abuse directed toward McIlroy, Rea said: “You know, it happens when we’re over in Rome on the other side. And Rory understands. I thought he handled the press conference just amazingly. But yeah, things like that are going to happen. And I don’t know what was said, but all I know is golf is the engine of good.”
Sprague, who took over as PGA of America’s chief executive in January, told the Athletic on Wednesday that he had apologized to McIlroy’s manager that morning and asked him to pass along a message to the five-time major champion and his wife.
“I sent a long email to share with Rory and Erica and just told him that we will do better in the future,” Sprague said. “I’m the CEO now. I don’t condone this type of behavior. This is not good for the game of golf. It’s not good for the Ryder Cup. It’s not good for any of the professional athletes, and we will do better.”
Heather McMahan arrives at the 76th Emmy Awards on Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater.
(Jae C. Hong / Invision / Associated Press)
In video footage from the first tee Saturday morning, McMahan appeared to be taking part in a profane chant aimed at McIlroy. That night, the PGA of America released a statement saying McMahan had apologized to McIlroy and Team Europe and had stepped down from her first-tee hosting duties.
McMahan addressed the situation Wednesday on her “Absolutely Not” podcast, saying she did not start the chant, as some outlets have reported, and said it only once before realizing it wasn’t something she wanted to take part in.
“I will take full responsibility and sincerely apologize to Rory, Team Europe for saying that,” McMahan said. “It was so foolish of me. I did not start the chant. I would just like that narrative to get out there. I did not start it, but any way that I had participated in that, even just saying it once, was so foolish and silly of me.
“And as soon as it came out and they started chanting, I was just like, ‘Oh, the energy just shifted.’ It went from us trying to be fun and funny … to immediately just was negative and felt really kind of toxic. So as soon as I said that I was like, ‘I don’t want any part of this.’”
McIlroy described the abuse as “unacceptable” and said it should be “off-limits”.
Sprague says he plans on apologising to McIlroy and his family.
“I haven’t spoken to Rory or Erica [McIlroy] but I do plan on sending them an email with my heartfelt apologies because of what occurred,” he said.
McIlroy suffered lengthy abuse before eventually snapping by swearing at a spectator that called out while he was addressing the ball.
“I chirped back because it got to me a few times, but we tried to handle everything that came our way with class and poise, and for the most part, I felt like we did that,” said McIlroy.
“It was a rough week for all of us. But at the same time, we shut them up by our performance.”
The Irish golf star had stood up for himself amid verbal abuse and other inappropriate behavior from some American fans during the Ryder Cup this weekend at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y.
After helping Team Europe fend off a massive U.S. rally for a 15-13 victory Sunday, McIlroy had plenty more to say about what he witnessed from fans during the three-day event.
“I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf,” McIlroy said during his team’s post-tournament press conference. “I think golf should be held to a higher standard than than what was 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. And, you know, sometimes this week we didn’t see that.”
McIlroy went 3-1-1 during the event while enduring boisterous jeers and insults from members of the crowd who were doing their best to disrupt him while he lined up to swing or putt. At one point Saturday a cup of beer appeared to sail out of the crowd and hit the brim of a hat worn by McIlroy’s wife, Erica Stoll, who was walking next to her husband.
The reigning Masters champion didn’t take such treatment quietly, clapping back at times with profanity or gestures of his own.
At one point during foursome play Saturday morning, McIlroy told some boisterous Americans to “shut the f— up.” He then proceeded to send his shot to within three feet of the hole, setting up Tommy Fleetwood‘s putt to clinch the European pair’s win.
Asked Sunday how satisfying that particular set of events was, McIlroy replied, “Very f— satisfying.”
On Monday morning, U.S. golf legend Tom Watson congratulated the European team on their win in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The four-time Ryder Cup player and two-time captain also wrote: “More importantly, I’d like to apologize for the rude and mean-spirited behavior from our American crowd at Bethpage. As a former player, Captain and as an American, I am ashamed of what happened.”
In general, McIlroy said, “we shut them up by our performance and how we played. You know, I chirped back a few times because it got to me a few times. [But] we tried to handle everything that came our way with class and poise and for the most part I felt like we did that.”
The amount of security and police present at the tournament was increased as the weekend went on, a step McIlroy didn’t think was necessary.
“The police out there and the amount of the security presence was insane,” McIlroy said. “It’s not like — nothing was going to happen. There wasn’t really going to be any sort of physical altercation or anything like that. … There was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive behavior, but look, it’s a minority of the crowd. It’s not the majority. The majority of people here are true golf fans and are respectful and [hope] that both teams have the same chance to hit the shots and play a fair contest.”
McIlroy added that he hopes those respectful fans are the ones who show up at the next Ryder Cup, which will be held in his homeland.
“We will be making sure to say to our fans in Ireland in 2027 that what happened here this week is not acceptable.”
That said, McIlroy and his European teammates did appear to take part in a little playful taunting of their own after their win Sunday. President Trump posted a video on Truth Social that showed the group hoisting their trophy and singing, “Are you watching, Donald Trump?”
Trump, who attended the Ryder Cup on Friday, wrote in response: “Yes, I’m watching. Congratulations!”
McDowell competed in four Ryder Cups between 2008 and 2014, picking up nine points from 15 matches, and his success over Hunter Mahan in the final singles match at Celtic Manor in Wales in 2010 closed out victory for the Europeans.
He went on to serve twice as a vice-captain – under Thomas Bjorn in 2018 and under Padraig Harrington for the 2020 Ryder Cup in 2021.
His experiences from those encounters and his observations of events since give him an insight into the spirit among European teams and the recipe for success in the febrile atmosphere generated by the competition.
“The European system that has been developed is obviously turning into something very robust. Take the chemistry of partnerships and developing great relationships.
“Eleven of the 12 players who competed in Rome [in 2023] competing again for Europe in this Ryder Cup, something that has never been done before, and look at the results.
“It was an incredible first four sessions, the domination. Clearly that’s not something a team can do every year so you’re always having to cycle new players in and out, figure out the chemistry between them, put great pairings together, continue to be a dominant force in the foursomes.”
Traditionally Europe have been more successful in the pairs formats of the event, with the United States often enjoying the upper hand in the singles, as was the case in the 2025 edition.
“Friday and Saturday are huge days because you lay the foundation down for what Sunday’s singles can be,” reflected the 2010 US Open champion.
“America are historically a little stronger in singles over the years but Europe laid the foundations down in those pairings. It comes down to understanding what makes a great pair, and that comes from all the analytics.
“But there’s so much more to that. It comes from the great friendships that are struck up in the team rooms, the camaraderie.
“The players come from all over Europe – different countries, different cultures and different backgrounds. They all come together.”
After a “really tough week”, Rory McIlroy says winning the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, coupled with his Masters victory in April, has made 2025 the best year of his golfing career.
RORY MCILROY said he wished the police “let the dogs off the leash” during the “unacceptable” fan behaviour at the Battle of Bethpage.
But he admitted it was “very f***ing satisfying” to stick it back to the abusers by walking away with 3.5 points and, more importantly, the Ryder Cup trophy in Europe’s grasp.
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Rory McIlroy hit back at the Ryder Cup abuseCredit: Getty
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Police had dogs at Bethpage Black to restore orderCredit: PA
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McIlroy also paid tribute to his wife EricaCredit: PA
But while some idiots were ejected for their conduct, McIlroy would have liked to see them have to deal with the K9s.
Speaking in a jubilant winning press conference after a nervy 15-13 European win, he said: “I wish they had let the dogs off the leashes.
“The police out there and the amount of security presence was insane.
“Look, nothing was going to happen. There wasn’t going to be physical altercation [but] there was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive behaviour.
“We should ever accept that in golf.
Sky Sports forced to apologise after Rory McIlroy’s foul mouthed outburst towards American hecklers at Ryder Cup
“It was a rough week for all of us. But at the same time, we shut them up by our performance and how we played.
“I chirped back a few times because it got to me a few times, but we tried to handle everything that came our way with class and poise, and for the most part, I felt like we did that.”
McIlroy had to deal with shocking heckles about his personal life throughout the weekend – all within earshot of wife Erica.
And he heaped praise on her for showing “class, poise and dignity” after she was verbally and physically assaulted by the horrific New York crowds, including having a beer thrown at her on Saturday.
An emotionally drained McIlroy, who lost his “pillow fight” of a singles match to world No1 Scottie Scheffler, continued: “It should be off-limits, but obviously it wasn’t this week.
“I love her and we’re going to have a good time celebrating tonight.”
As applause broke out among the European players, close pal Lowry then added: “I was out there for two days with Erica McIlroy, and the amount of abuse that she received was astonishing.
“The way she was out there supporting her husband and supporting her team was unbelievable, and kudos to her for that.”
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RYDER CUP 2025 LIVE: FOLLOW ALL THE LATEST FROM BETHPAGE BLACK
But the exchange set the tone of the day. McIlroy lost his cool towards the end of his morning foursomes win alongside Lowry, swearing at American fans during a heated moment on the 16th fairway.
With some members of the crowd fuelled by all-day drinking, things became more heated in the afternoon fourballs.
The atmosphere simmered over the opening few holes before becoming a tinderbox on the par-five fourth green.
McIlroy backed off a putt for an eagle three after a shout disrupted his concentration. He missed his effort but Lowry holed his chance – and then erupted with a passionate and pointed celebration towards the offender.
When Lowry stuck away another putt for a birdie on the fifth, he let rip with another vocal celebration. Only his dad Brendan, watching from the side, shouted louder.
Things ignited again on the sixth green when McIlroy backed off another putt. “Can’t take it, Rory?'” bawled one New Yorker.
A crowd in a city known for its brash and harsh sports fans clearly felt this was all fair game.
By this stage, the exasperated European pair – as well as vice-captain Eduardo Molinari – were pointing out offenders to the police officers, who had visibly moved in tighter in a bid to calm the mood.
American opponents Justin Thomas and Cameron Young sensibly appealed for calm, but also stoked emotions with wild celebrations when they won holes seven and nine to leave a tense match all square again.
Messages warning fans of a zero tolerance approach to abusive shouting flashed up on huge screens across the course, saying they would “continue to closely monitor fan behaviour and take appropriate action”.
Shortly after Lowry lunged towards the fan on the 10th tee, one of these reminders was booed by the American fans around the 11th green.
The PGA of America, who organise the Ryder Cup, had already beefed up security around all four matches by this point and the sight of police officers trailing the players was a clear warning sign of the threat they faced.
