Sky’s Ewen Murray to quit golf commentary after Ryder Cup abuse
Murray said he will step down for good following this year’s Masters and Open after being disgusted by the scenes at Bethpage Black
The veteran Sky Sports golf commentator Ewen Murray says he has made the decision to hang up his microphone after witnessing the “disgraceful” abuse suffered by Rory McIlroy at last year’s Ryder Cup . Murray, 71, has been the voice of golf on Sky Sports for 35 years, following his own playing career, and had not renewed his contract with the broadcaster - but he told the Sliced Podcast that the ugly scenes at Bethpage Black prompted him to bring forward his retirement. McIlroy received an apology from the PGA of America after he and his wide Erica were the target of abuse during Europe’s Ryder Cup victory in September.
A hostile atmosphere spilled over, with an MC forced to step down from her role after leading a chant of “F*** you, Rory! ” and McIlroy’s wife Erica being struck by a can of beer thrown from the crowd. “I heard stuff in that half-hour that I can’t repeat to you, it’s that bad,” Murray told the Sliced Podcast .
“Not fired at Rory but at Rory’s family. I walked back and I thought, ‘Do you really need to be part of this any more? ’ “And that’s when I decided to finish commentary.
By the time I got on the plane on the Monday, I looked out over New York and thought it’s been a fantastic journey, but if that’s our future I really don’t want any part of it. ” Murray will still appear at next month’s Masters and will continue his role through to July’s Open and the Senior Open at Gleneagles. After the Ryder Cup, Murray said he felt his “time is probably up” but was persuaded to stay on for The Players and golf’s major championships.