Uh oh! Team USA make huge Rory McIlroy faux pas on their Ryder Cup merch

By , Golf writer and wannabe darts player.

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Rory McIlroy is the talk of the Ryder Cup - but not for reasons you might think...

Don’t worry, European fans, Rory McIlroy hasn’t switched teams. But this might be one of the best mistakes in the history of the Ryder Cup…

The USA Ryder Cup team have committed their fair share of fashion faux pas over the years, and it looks like they may have made another leading up to the 2025 edition of the famous contest.

For reasons unknown – and almost without fail – one of golf’s most iconic events is blighted every two years by some of the most atrocious clobber. Whether that is the team gear itself or the merchandise on sale for fans, there is just something about the Ryder Cup. (Though they have done a great job on the souvenir front, to be fair to them.)

And Team USA are the far more guilty party. The 2010 rain suits spring to mind, but there are countless examples to choose from in the history of the event.

Ahead of the highly-anticipated 2025 matches at Bethpage in New York, things have already taken a turn.

With merchandise already on sale, an eagle-eyed fan has spotted something that looks more than a little off.

Available through the official US 2025 Ryder Cup Shop is a $65 Team USA Ralph Lauren t-shirt with a silhouette of a golfer front and centre. Nothing wrong with that idea.

Only, the golfer in question appears to bear a striking resemblance to European legend Rory McIlroy.

We’ll let you be the judge of that…

What do you think?

It isn’t 100% clear that it is the five-time major winning Northern Irishman, but it’s certainly enough of a resemblance to cause a fuss. After all, McIlroy’s poise when holding his finish is instantly recognizable among golfers.

When McIlroy was shown the t-shirt by Sky Sports ahead of the BMW PGA Championship, he replied: “It looks more like Adam Scott to me.”

Asked how he would feel about a load of American fans walking around Bethpage with his silhouette on their clothes, he laughed and added: “That’s OK, I don’t mind that!”

McIlroy is one of the most decorated players in history and become the first European to complete the career Grand Slam when he won the Masters in April.

He is also a veteran of seven Ryder Cups and has been on five winning teams, boasting an overall record of 16-13-4 in that time.

After winning in front of his home fans at the Irish Open on Sunday, McIlroy is in Wentworth this week for the BMW PGA Championship before the Ryder Cup comes into full focus as Europe attempt to defend the trophy in New York.

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