Golf’s Ryder Cup has ended in ugly scenes, with Rory McIlroy’s wife Erica Stoll left in tears after apparently being hit in the head by a fan’s beer and a crowd announcer sacked for an expletive-laden chant.

The European team retained the trophy on Sunday, holding off a dramatic fightback from the US at Long Island’s Bethpage Black to continue their dominance of golf’s top team competition.

But the unacceptable behaviour of the New York fans hit a fresh low when footage emerged showing Stoll being struck with an object thrown from the 18th grandstand, understood to be a pint of beer.

The video shows the beverage appearing to hit Stoll, who turned around in shock, as did McIlroy. He comforts her, before the pair walk off.

McIlroy later said golf – with its focus on integrity and respect – should be held to a higher standard.

“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.”

Golf Magazine’s Dylan Dethier posted a separate video on X of the incident, noting it “looked like someone hit the drink out of another guy’s hand”.

Stoll was reported to have left the 17th green in tears.

McIlroy’s golf partner Shane Lowry said he was stunned at the abuse aimed at Stoll.

“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,” he said.

Earlier, crowd announcer Heather McMahan was stood down on Saturday after urging fans at the first tee to chant “f— you Rory!” after players were introduced to the crowd before the start of the afternoon session.

It was one of several unsavoury incidents on a fractious, fraught day  overshadowed by crowd problems and set the tone for a lot of the subsequent treatment of McIlroy.

Extra security was called in and state troopers ejected some of the noisiest fans.

“Heather McMahan has extended an apology to Rory Mcllroy and Ryder Cup Europe and has stepped down from hosting the first tee of the Ryder Cup,” tournament organiser PGA of America said.

Also on Saturday, European captain Luke Donald accused American fans of “crossing the line” after repeated heckling and abuse of his players.

Chief among them was McIlroy, who endured many comments as he prepared to play shots. He and Lowry also clashed with fans as they played, and eventually beat, Thomas and Cameron Young.

The 36-year-old Northern Irishman sometimes pushed back — cursing at his hecklers or stepping away from a shot until the riled masses settled down.

On Saturday, he told boisterous fans to “shut the f— up” before knocking an approach shot to within a metre to set up a clinching put in the morning’s foursomes match.

McIlroy described it as a “really challenging day”, while Lowry seemed to relish the atmosphere.

“It was intense. It was like something I’ve never experienced,” he said. “But this is what I live for. This is it. This is, like, honestly, the reason I get up in the morning, for stuff like this.”

McIlroy said: “People can be their own judge of whether they took it too far or not. I’m just proud of us for being able to win today with what we had to go through.”

At one point on Sunday, fans appeared to chant CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis’ name at McIlroy. The pair were rumoured to have been involved amid the golfer’s divorce saga with Stoll last year; it ended in McIlroy and his wife reconciling.

McIlroy’s afternoon match was held up several times to make appeals for calm – including some from opponent Justin Thomas.

“It was loud, it was raucous,” Donald said.

“What I consider crossing the line is personal insults and making sounds when they are trying to hit on their backswings or very close to when they are trying to go into their routines. That did happen a little bit.”

The PGA of America did not comment when asked about reports of further disturbances, including fighting, in the crowd.

-with AAP