Inside Track: McIlroy needn’t expect support from the home crowd

They love Rory McIlroy in America. Cheer his every shot, loudest of all when he sinks the final putt for outright victory. If it’s a Major, he wins, they go mental, with roars of “Rory. Rory. Rory”.

It could be different this weekend. No, it WILL be different. The Ryder Cup is down for decision in New York, and you can take it, the only ones in the crowd urging on the boy from Bangor will those who’ve crossed the Atlantic, paying, incidentally, an admission fee that puts the price of an All-Ireland final ticket in, well, the penny-hae’penny place.

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If it’s anything like previous Ryder Cups played in America, this will be a raucous affair. It nearly always is. It’s just over a quarter of a century since the infamous ‘Battle of Brookline’ was fought out.

Before that, we had the ‘War on the Shore’ in South Caroline, and while it didn’t get a moniker, the 2016 renewal in Minnesota was nasty, the PGA of America having to tell home supporters to behave themselves going into the third and final day.

Are we about to have ‘Bedlam in Bethage’? A lot could depend on how the contest unfolds. If it’s neck and neck on the final day, you can expect to have the volume turned up.

By the way, it’s not only in America where you have boors in the crowd. We have them here in this country, as evidenced by shouts of ‘Water. Water’ when Joakim Lagergren’s wayward drive in his recent Irish Open play-off with McIlroy headed for the pond.

This page’s favourite player from beyond these shores, Tommy Fleetwood, will be attempting to enhance a fine Ryder Cup record; and although failing to win an automatic place on the team, instead having to find favour from captain, Luke Donald, Shane Lowry has a vital part to play along with McIlroy, who’s the most experienced on the Europe team.

And those admission charges? A ticket costs $750.....per day. Which makes you think, the loudmouths will have to be rich to have their voices heard.