European players back Rory McIlroy's wife after "astonishing" abuse at Bethpage Black

The European Ryder Cup team praised Rory McIlroy's wife in the immediate aftermath of their stunning victory at Bethpage Black. 

Luke Donald's Europe race into a comfortable lead after two days of the 45th biennial contest in New York. 

They were led by their talisman, McIlroy, 36, who picked up 3.5 points for the blue and gold with victories alongside his good friends Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood. 

But the reigning Masters champion was public enemy number one all week, frequently on the receiving end of horrific insults about his private life and wife Erica. 

Extra security was called in and state troopers had to chuck a few spectators out. 

McIlroy's "long week" also included an American comedian - hired to rev up the New York fans - being forced to resign after she led the crowd in an expletive-laden chant about the Northern Irishman. 

Footage also emerged before the Sunday singles showing McIlroy's wife being struck with an object thrown from the 18th grandstand, understood to be a pint of beer. 

McIlroy told reporters in Europe's hilarious winning press conference that golf should be held to a higher standard as the game teaches you about integrity and respect. 

"It should be off-limits, but obviously it wasn't this week," McIlroy said. 

"Erica is fine. She's a very, very strong woman. You know, she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has. I love her and we're going to have a good time celebrating tonight."

Justin Rose said he wasn't aware of the incident. 

"She didn't bring that to the team room," Rose said. We didn't make that a big deal. That's news to me. That says a lot about the strength of Erica and everybody on this team."

Shane Lowry, who rolled in a putt in his match against Russell Henley to retain the Ryder Cup, was stunned at the abuse Erica had received this week. 

"I was out there for two days with Erica McIlroy, and the amount of abuse that she received was astonishing and the way she was out there supporting her husband and supporting her team was unbelievable, and kudos to her for that."

"Golf should be held to a higher standard"

McIlroy, who was defeated by Scottie Scheffler in the fourth match, appeared to indicate there should have been more support from outside the ropes for the American players instead of handing out insults. 

"Look, I don't think we should ever accept that in golf," he said. 

"I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week. Golf has the ability to you unite people. Golf teaches you very good life lessons. 

"It teaches you etiquette. It teaches you how to play by the rules. It teaches you how to respect people."

He added: "Sometimes this week we didn't see that. So no, this should not be what is acceptable in the Ryder Cup. 

"But you know, we will be making sure to say to our fans in Ireland in 2027 that what happened here this week is not acceptable, and for me, it's - you know, come and support your home team. Come and support your team.

"I think if I was an American, I would be annoyed that people - I didn't hear a lot of shouts for Scottie today, but I heard a lot of shouts against me. It's like, support your players. That's the thing.

"Look, it was a rough week for all of us. But at the same time, we shut them up by our performance and how we played, and we tried to - I chirped back a few times because it got to me a few times, but we tried to handle everything that came our way with class and poise, and for the most part, I felt like we did that."