Things like that are going to happen.”Europe’s Matt Fitzpatrick said about the Rome reference, “It’s pretty offensive to European fans the fact that he said that, really.” Lowry said the level of abuse directed at McIlroy’s wife was “astonishing.”Derek Sprague, the CEO at the PGA of America, said on Tuesday that spectators crossed the line and that he planned to apologize personally to Rory McIlroy and Erica McIlroy, who formerly worked at the PGA.“Rory might have been a target because of how good he is, but the entire European team should not have been subjected to that,” Sprague said on the Golf Channel. “I feel badly and I plan on apologizing to them.”Rea also took heat for an awkward trophy presentation on Sunday in which he mentioned Europe had retained the cup, instead of winning it. On Tuesday, on his LinkedIn page, Rea wrote: “I’m personally taking some criticism right now and that comes with the role and just like when I was an umpire I expect it.