‘Embarrassing stupidity’: Former Ryder Cup star blasts U.S. golf fans

Ian Poulter had a tremendous record in several appearances on the European Ryder Cup team. But the 49-year-old veteran is not involved with the 2025 Ryder Cup, either as a player or vice captain. That didn’t stop him from unleashing harsh critiques of U.S. golf fans ahead of the 2025 event.

In a recent YouTube, Poulter tore into American spectators, accusing them of “embarrassing stupidity” and suggesting a taser should be used to control unruly fans.

Inadvertently, Poulter may have given both U.S. fans and the U.S. Ryder Cup team bulletin-board material to inspire their respective performances this week at Bethpage Black.

Ian Poulter attacks American golf fans for behavior

The comments came in a recent appearance Poulter made on SPORTSBible YouTube channel, where he played a lighthearted game of “Agree to Disagree” with 2025 European Ryder Cup member Tyrrell Hatton.

When the two players were posed with the question of who has better golf fans, Europe or the U.S., Poulter unloaded on American fans.

“I don’t even know where to start. There’s no… I mean, f—-ing mashed potato and all that bulls— that you hear is madness. ‘In the hole! Get in the hole!’ It’s a 600-yard par-5, you f—ing idiot, ” Poulter began.

He then jokingly suggested he wished he had a taser to hit unruly American fans with on the course.

“I actually just wanna borrow the taser from the security guard. Just to let one go per hole would be amazing. Imagine that. You get one taser per hole. That’d be awesome. How good, right between the eyes. Have it,” Poulter joked.

While Poulter maintained a comedic delivery throughout his comments, they won’t come off well in the written word, especially when read by American Ryder Cup fans and players. Hatton seemed to understand this immediately, as he looked somewhat uncomfortable while Poulter was talking.

But Poulter wasn’t done yet, going on about the “stupidness” displayed by American fans and claiming he hasn’t experienced it “anywhere else.”

“It’s not heckling. It’s just complete and utter embarrassing stupidity,” Poulter said. “We don’t get that at the Open Championship. You don’t get it anywhere. Like, it’s only in America that the stupidness comes out. I mean, it’s just so annoying.”

How Poulter’s American fan critiques could impact 2025 Ryder Cup

Appearing for a moment to recognize the impact his comments could have on this week’s Ryder Cup, Poulter joked, “This is just a UK channel, right?”

“I was gonna say, you’ve gone to town,” Hatton responded.

But Poulter was still not done tearing into American fans, claiming that European fans are “very respectful.”

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“It’s annoying. There’s no need for it, right? Our fans, when they come and watch golf, are very respectful. I’m not completely dissing the American fans because the atmosphere in American is amazing. I think the understanding of a good shot…”

That’s when Hatton chimed in.

“There are a number of times in the States when you can hit a 4-iron to 15 feet and that’s a great shot, but no one up at the green has clapped… and you’ve thought you missed the green,” Hatton said. “You get up there and you’re like ‘F— me it’s a tough crowd.'”

You can be all but assured that Poulter and Hatton’s comments have already made their way to the U.S. team room at Bethpage. Fans will no doubt hear about them in due time. We’ll start to see the impact they have on this year’s Ryder Cup when the first matches get underway on Friday at the Black Course.