Rory McIlroy has perfect response for heckler during Olympics preparation

Rory McIlroy reminded a rowdy American heckler where next year's Ryder Cup is being held during a practice round at St Andrews.

The Northern Irishman was spotted playing at the famous Old Course on Monday and word spread quickly.

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Hundreds flocked to get a glimpse of the world no.2 and some fans decided to send him a message.

One American observer shouted at McIlroy: “New York loves you, the Bronx baby, the Bronx!”

The golfer chuckled, before yelling back: "You're not going to love us next year!"

McIlroy was referring to the 2025 Ryder Cup, which is being held at Bethpage Black in New York.

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Europe have only won once on American soil in the last 19 years, at the 'Miracle of Medinah' in 2012, while Team USA have not claimed an away victory for 31 years.

Nevertheless, McIlroy set his stall out following Europe's crushing triumph in Rome last year.

He said: "I've said it for six or seven years to anyone who will listen, one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup.

"And that's what we're going to do at Bethpage."

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For now, McIlroy is preparing to compete for Team Ireland at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The 35-year-old will play alongside close friend Shane Lowry when action gets underway at Le Golf National (ironically, a former Ryder Cup venue) on August 1.

McIlroy was previously critical of golf's place in the Olympics upon its introduction in 2016 but staged a dramatic U-turn to compete at Tokyo five years later.

Speaking after narrowly missing out on third place in 2021, McIlroy said: "I made some comments before that were probably uneducated and impulsive.

"But coming here experiencing it, seeing, feeling everything that goes on, not just Olympic golf but just the Olympics in general, that sort of Olympic spirit's definitely bitten me.

"I'm excited how this week's turned out and excited for the future."

The four-time major winner will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing season, which ended with a heartbreaking collapse at the US Open and a missed cut at The Open.

Olympic gold will not end his ten-year major drought, but it would go some way to improving McIlroy's recent record at the biggest events.