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Multiple Ryder Cup fans have been escorted off the property at Bethpage Black after the heckling of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry reached boiling point on Saturday afternoon.
Abuse of Team Europe's players - and McIlroy in particular - has been a theme of the weekend in Long Island, New York, but it crossed a line during day two's four-balls and led to a series of ejections.
The Daily Mail understands extra security was rushed to McIlroy and Lowry's match against Justin Thomas and Cameron Young, shortly after McIlroy refused to continue playing until 'they shut up'.
Even more security is expected to arrive in the next hour, and the Ryder Cup has 'standby' officials they are able to send to specific groups if the heckling gets out of hand.
And cops told the Daily Mail that they were told also instructed to stay with Bryson Dechambeau's group due to fears of tension spilling over. DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler were competing against Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.
The Daily Mail also witnessed a police officer telling one fan to 'quiet the f*** down' after one particular heckle, and it is understood that some of the shouts at McIlroy and Lowry have included jibes over their wives, families and physical appearance.
Rowdy Ryder Cup fans continued to target Rory McIlroy on the Saturday of the tournament
Extra security rushed to the scene to try and quell the jeers of the American fans
Tension between specatators and players were heating as the tournament progressed
Fans have also begun to boo the big screens around Bethpage Black whenever messages are shared warning them about 'abusive behavior'.
The unsavory atmosphere at Bethpage Black has been gradually increasing since the tournament began on Friday, with McIlroy seen holding up his middle finger to fans as he walked off the course on day one.
Supporters in the grandstand then chanted 'f*** you, Rory' to the Northern Irishman when he arrived on the first tee on Saturday morning, only for him to blow kisses in return.
McIlroy then bit back again during the foursomes a few hours later, shouting 'Guys, shut the f*** up' after jeers continued while he was trying to play a shot.
The tension coincides with Europe strengthening their lead on Saturday morning, moving 8.5-3.5 ahead of the United States just 30 miles outside of Manhattan.
Ahead of the tournament, families of players on both sides chose to stay away from the event due to fears of things getting nasty in the crowd.
Matt Fitzpatrick said his parents were skipping the competition, explaining: 'They didn't have a great experience in Whistling Straits (in 2021). That's not a lie or anything or making anything up.
'It's a lot of travel, it's obviously a busy week. It's a tiring week. And then they obviously want to have a nice week as well.
"No denying that they had a bad experience in the past, but there's no reason why it has to be like that this time. Obviously I'll miss them this week for sure, but they are doing what's best for them, and that's what's important.'
Xander Schauffle's father Stefan said he is missing the event in part because of crowd trouble and also because of Rory McIlroy's clash with Patrick Cantlay's caddie Joe LaCava in Rome.
'I'm afraid of what's going to happen in New York,' he said. 'I was there [at Whistling Straits] when they called Shane Lowry's wife a w**** in front of him. I couldn't believe my ears.
'Then I saw what happened in Rome. That was utterly disgusting claiming this money bull---- and Rory [McIlroy] behaved disgustingly in my opinion. It's only going to get worse. It's ruined my appetite for the Ryder Cup. It becomes unwatchable.'
More to follow.
