JT still upset by ugly Ryder Cup scenes: "It sucked, I felt terrible"

Justin Thomas says the PGA of America should have had a better plan in place to deal with the abuse the European players were on the receiving end of at the Ryder Cup. 

All 12 of Luke Donald's dozen were subjected to a barrage of verbal abuse at Bethpage Black in September, with Masters champion Rory McIlroy the primary target. 

McIlroy was subjected to persistent personal insults over the three-day clash with the United States and on occasion was even heckled at the top of his backswing, prompting the golfer to snap.  

A particular low point came in the Saturday afternoon four-balls when Thomas and Cameron Young locked horns with McIlroy and Shane Lowry. 

The Irish pair eventually won Europe a crucial point, but play was repeatedly held up owing to the insults being hurled from the crowd towards the players and their wives. 

"None of us wanted that," Thomas told the most recent edition of the No Laying Up podcast. "None of us hoped it would get to that. It sucked. I felt terrible.

"We get stuff yelled at us all the time. In away Ryder Cups we are always getting bashed and yelled at.

"But any time where it starts getting in the families or talking to the wives, I hate that. I felt terrible for Wendy and Erica out there and told them that. 

"They didn't deserve that, they just were out there trying to watch their husbands win a point and had to deal with it.

"I hated it was as much of a talk as it was, because it took away from the Ryder Cup. It's a huge deal, right?"

McIlroy revealed in Europe's winning news conference that his wife was even struck by a drinks cup. 

He has since revealed that he received a full letter of apology from the PGA of America following the abuse.

And he wants everyone to remember the 2025 Ryder Cup for the right reasons. 

Thomas appears to believe that the situation was handled poorly, though.

"I think there should have been a lot better plan in place from the PGA and from the security aspect," said Thomas. 

"You don’t want that to be what it is, but the first day or two you throw a couple of people out for saying some stuff and people are going to stop doing things.

"I remember the frustration [when] Cam and I played Rory and Shane. 

"People were yelling stuff and our official was just standing there and Rory was like can you help us here? These people are yelling at us and he was just sitting there.

"It did not feel like there was a very good plan put in place for how are we going to deal with this when it gets to that.

"It sucks because I am in no way saying it in the sense that I am dogging the area, but it's a very North Eastern [place] and New York fans are intense.

"I remember going to a Yankees vs a Red Sox game in Yankee Stadium when I was seven and I had a Nomar Garciaparra jersey on and I remember a grown man giving me the finger."

Europe won the 2025 Ryder Cup 15-13. 

Thomas contributed two points at Bethpage and now has an overall record of 9-6-2 from 17 matches. 

The 32-year-old revealed last month he will begin the 2026 PGA Tour season late after undergoing surgery on his back. 

"It's so weird," Thomas said. "I walk completely fine. I feel like I could go walk as much as I possibly want right now, but I can't do anything. 

"So the weirdest part is not doing anything because I'm not supposed to, not because I physically can't."