Two-time major champion John Daly has credited Rory McIlroy for the way he handled abuse at the Ryder Cup in New York from US fans.
The American admits that McIlroy handled the abuse superbly, not letting it phase him one bit.
John Daly has given Rory McIlroy a huge amount of credit for the way he handled abuse at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York in September.
The Northern Irishman was on the receiving end of a lot of heckling, verbal abuse and taunting from the hostile New York crowd over the course of three days at the 45th Ryder Cup.
Despite receiving more abuse than any other player, McIlroy managed to win 3.5 points for Team Europe to help his side win the Ryder Cup and Europe's first on American soil since the 'Miracle at Medinah' back in 2012.
McIlroy, who was the second most googled athlete globally in 2025, even had to contend with American fans throwing objects and pints of beer at his wife Erika Stoll.
In the end, McIlroy had the last laugh as he and his European teammates defeated Keegan Bradley's Tea, USA 15-13 to secure back-to-back Ryder Cup victories.
The five-time major champion played a major part in Europe's success. Winning the Ryder Cup was one of McIlroy's best achievements of the year, despite also winning the Masters, completing the career Grand Slam, winning a seventh Race to Dubai and also being crowned Sports Personality of the Year.
Two-time major champion Daly was almighty impressed by McIlroy's mentality and winning mindset at Bethpage in September, insisting that the torrents of abuse he received didn't remotely phase him.
John Daly was impressed by the way Rory McIlroy handled the Ryder Cup abuse in New York. The American feels the Northern Irishman led by example, helping Team Europe secure a well-deserved victory over Team USA:
"My hat's off to Rory McIlroy because they absolutely destroyed him, and the thing is, what they have to understand is, it didn't bother him," Daly told Hard Rock Bet.
"He played great, and the whole European team played great, and I think what we must realize is the fans are so awesome - they're going to get behind the US, like the Europeans get behind the European team.
"It's probably going to get ugly when we go to Europe again, so our guys are just going to have to be able to put up with it," said the 1991 PGA Championship winner and 1995 Open champion.
With the 2025 Ryder Cup now firmly in the history books, golf fans are already looking forward to the next staging of the biennial golf contest in two years time.
The next Ryder Cup will be held on European soil this time, with Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland hosting the 46th Ryder Cup.
The last time the Ryder Cup was held in Ireland was back in 2006, with The K Club hosting. This time, Team Europe will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of successive wins at Adare Manor.
The likelihood is that Rory McIlroy will once again lead the Europeans as one of the top players, alongside the likes of Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.
Irishman Shane Lowry has his sights firmly set on representing Europe as a player in two years time at Adare Manor, with his 2027 Ryder Cup aspirations fuelling his ambitions to represent the team of blue and gold on home soil.
The European team won't have to contend with any abuse at the next Ryder Cup, with the Americans instead perhaps up against it this time around.