Roberts: The simple PGA errors that rightly left Rory McIlroy fuming at Ryder Cup

The PGA of America should be hanging their heads in shame as the dust settles on the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

I think last week's Ryder Cup would not have looked out of place if it had featured on Happy Gilmore 2 if truth be told.

Rowdy American fans were always to be expected, but less so the hideous personal insults, which were largely aimed at Rory McIlroy and even when he was over the ball.

There was also a full-on fist-fight and a drink was chucked at McIlroy's wife Erica.

If that wasn't bad enough, the 1st tee emcee hired by the PGA stepped down ahead of the singles after she encouraged the home fans to chant "f*** you Rory".

There was even time for squeaky rubber ducks to p*** off the players, also involving McIlroy.

Scroll down to watch what happened...

Yes, squeaky rubber ducks were actually handed out to Ryder Cup fans with every $17 purchase of a 'Cherry Fairway Fizz' drink.

How the PGA of America possibly signed this one off with drinks supplier, Sugarlands Shine, remains anyone's guess. 

And I'm not talking about the price.

By all means hand out a rubber duck if you want, but please remove the squeak.

This is the Ryder Cup, not bath time...

McIlroy most certainly wasn't relaxed when he heard the duck as he boarded the 10th tee. 

"Apparently several people in the crowd have smuggled in squeaky baby plastic ducks and they're squeaking them as the guys stand over the ball, which was particularly upsetting to Rory there on that 10th tee," said on-course commentator Jim 'Bones' Mackay, who was then informed a different story. 

The CBS lead host replied: "If you buy a Cherry Fizz drink you get a squeaky duck toy that's on top of it, so maybe they didn't sneak them in but they actually purchased a drink here to get them."

Watch McIlroy's reaction to the duck: 

Incredible, huh?!

But as I say, this was one of a number of glaring errors on the PGA's behalf at Bethpage.

Drinks may have been served with ducks.

But so too was justice.

Europe ran out deserved 15-13 victors in America's backyard.

Speaking of ducks, Luke Donald's Europe became the first away team to win the Ryder Cup since the Miracle at Medinah in 2012.

Donald is also the first captain since Tony Jacklin in 1989 to retain the Ryder Cup in consecutive contests.

Will Donald keep hold of the captain's armband and attempt to do what no captain has ever done before by winning three in a row?

He's unsure right now, but we think the lure of an outright record will be too much for him to turn down, especially being a home game. 

Ducks aside, the insults out there towards all of the Europeans, especially McIlroy and his wife Erica, was a total disgrace.

It honestly baffles me why it took the PGA of America until the day two fourballs on Saturday afternoon - the fourth session of five - to seriously ramp up additional state troopers where McIlroy's match was concerned.

That decision should have been made from day one in my book, and if added police officers were in place then maybe Rory and Erica wouldn't have been subjected to receiving constant abuse and insults through to Sunday. 

GolfMagic's Ben Smith followed McIlroy inside the ropes across all three days at the Ryder Cup, and day two was the worst for insults. 

We're still scratching the surface as to how McIlroy and his playing partner Shane Lowry managed to maintain their composure and play some fantastic golf to win their afternoon fourballs match (2up) given the hostility. 

Even at one stage during their match, Justin Thomas turned to a group of home fans to tell them to "shut the f*** up" when he heard them trying to put off the Europeans.

These minority of unruly US fans seemingly affected JT's performance too, as well his playing partner Cameron Young, so it very much backfired in that sense.

Related:

McIlroy, who completed the career grand slam at The Masters in April, is arguably the main attraction in world golf today, especially now the curtain is drawing on legendary Tiger Woods' career.

But just like McIlroy's beloved Manchester United Football Club, the Northern Irishman is hated, adored but never ignored.

The PGA knew, or at least should have known, that McIlroy, in a fiery Ryder Cup contest, would have a target on his back in New York.

Additional state troopers should have been in force right from the word go in case something like this transpired.

It unfortunately did, and badly...

Yes, the latest Ryder Cup was a home game for Team USA, and there had to be some sort of advantage for them of course there did, but the PGA of America had a job to protect the two teams involved and I think it failed to do that. 

I firmly believe the PGA and its captain Keegan Bradley failed on multiple fronts, something I discussed at large before the singles. 

The price of a daily ticket was a big mistake for starters, and the setup of the course just compounded things for the hosts. 

Yes, Bradley's troops rallied on Sunday and very nearly pulled off the most miraculous comeback just like Europe did at Medinah.

It was more bum squeak than duck squeak at one stage down the closing stretch for Donald. 

But ultimately USA's final-day surge was too little too late and Europe saw out their fifth away win in Ryder Cup history. 

In my eyes the PGA's failings fell down to one common theme and that was a complete lack of organisation right across the board.

They even cocked things up for reporters in the media centre, which summed it all up.

The majority of publications were only distributed one desk space with which to work, instead of one desk per accredited reporter.

This led, at times, to a game of musical media chairs as reporters had to shuffle around to find space when a desk wasn't in use.

Given the cost involved for all media attending the Ryder Cup all around the world, this to me further showed a general lack of awareness. 

Mistakes were made both on and off the course, and you would like to think the PGA of America will hold their hands up and admit that within time.

Let's just say there is certainly room for improvement when the PGA and Hazeltine take to the stage in 2029.

Before then, it's Adare Manor in 2027.

Let's hope we get a desk each there.