United States team embarrassment due to Rory McIlroy's oversight in Ryder Cup team apparel
The Ryder Cup 2025, scheduled to take place at Bethpage Black in New York on September 26, has been in the news for an unexpected reason. A fan-favourite golfer, Rory McIlroy, who is set to participate in the Ryder Cup as a member of Team Europe, has found himself at the centre of a controversy.
It appears that the official Ryder Cup merchandise, available on the official Ryder Cup website, includes a T-shirt from Team USA's Ralph Lauren collection that features a silhouette of a golfer, strikingly similar to McIlroy's pose and swing with a driver. One fan, after seeing a picture of the T-shirt online, wrote: "Appears to be???? That IS Rory. Unreal."
The T-shirt in question, priced at $65, features a bold golfer graphic with the words "USA Ryder Cup 2025" printed in bold. This apparent blunder has left many fans puzzled, with some speculating that there may have been a mix-up in the design process.
Interestingly, Rory McIlroy has been a source of inspiration for the American team, according to a Tour insider. McIlroy, who completed golf's career Grand Slam by winning the Masters in April 2023, has also won the Players' Championship this year and the Irish Open last week.
It is worth noting that the PGA America may not have used any of their own players for merchandise due to potential payment demands. This could potentially explain the use of McIlroy's silhouette on the Team USA merchandise.
Despite the controversy, the Ryder Cup showdown is shaping up to be an exciting event. Europe is aiming to become the first team to win away from home since 2012, and McIlroy's participation is sure to add an extra layer of intrigue.
As the Ryder Cup 2025 approaches, let's hope for a resolution to this merchandise controversy and focus on the golfing action that awaits us.
