Ryder Cup drama: Xander Schauffele’s father boycotts event over Rory McIlroy feud

Xander Schauffele's father, Stefan, will not attend the Ryder Cup, citing Rory McIlroy's "disgusting" 2023 behavior as a primary reason. His boycott underscores growing concerns about declining sportsmanship and hostile fan conduct at recent tournaments. This controversy adds intrigue to the upcoming event at Bethpage.

Xander Schauffele, Stefan Schauffele (Image Source: Getty)

The Ryder Cup is back on American soil this year at Bethpage State Park in New York. However, the spotlight is not only on golf. Headlines have also been dominated by off-course drama. Stefan Schauffele, U.S. golf star Xander’s father and coach, has confirmed he won’t be attending. For him, the Ryder Cup has shifted from a celebration of golf into something more negative. He points directly to Rory McIlroy’s behavior as one of the reasons.

Rory McIlroy clash a breaking point for Xander Schauffele’s father

Stefan has never been shy about voicing his opinions. His comments clearly indicate that he has lost the appeal to attend the tournament. In an interview with The Times, he said: “Do I miss the PGA Tour? No. I’m not going to the Ryder Cup either.” His reasons are tied to incidents he has personally witnessed. “That was utterly disgusting claiming this money bull***t and Rory [McIlroy] behaved disgustingly in my opinion [when he confronted Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava]. It’s only going to get worse. It’s ruined my appetite for the Ryder Cup. It becomes unwatchable.” In 2023, McIlroy clashed with LaCava after Patrick Cantlay holed a dramatic putt on the 18th green. LaCava waved his hat at the crowd in celebration, which McIlroy felt disrupted his preparation. The argument spilled over into the parking lot, where McIlroy confronted Justin Thomas’ caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay.

Growing concerns about player and fan behavior

According to reports, recent Ryder Cup tournaments have pushed the boundaries of sportsmanship. Many have complained and felt that the crowd behavior has become hostile. In 2021, at the time of Europe’s 19-9 loss at Whistling Straits, golfer Shane Lowry revealed that his wife, Wendy, was verbally abused by some fans. He said that a “small percentage” of the fans crossed the line, even though most of them were welcoming. He said, “Some people are idiots, especially when they drink. Nobody turns into a genius drinking, and that's what they were doing last week.” Even McIlroy himself has also faced abusive chants in past Ryder Cups. In 2016 at Hazeltine, fans were chanting ‘Sweet Caroline’. They had targeted him with lewd taunts after his breakup with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. Also Read: Why is Tiger Woods not a part of Ryder Cup 2025? Here’s what really happened Despite the drama, the tournament promises to be interesting. Xander Schauffele will again pair with Patrick Cantlay. This partnership has already seen four Ryder Cup matches with a balanced 2-2 record. Team USA will aim to secure a third consecutive win. However, the backdrop of controversy adds extra intrigue.

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