The Ryder Cup teed off on September 26 at Bethpage Black Golf Course in Long Island. But before a single swing was made, controversy landed on the green.

Ralph Lauren, the official outfitter for Team USA, has released a $65 navy T-shirt in its 2025 Ryder Cup collection. At first glance, the design is straightforward: “USA” across the chest with a silhouetted golfer mid-backswing behind it. The intent is clearly Americana, but upon closer inspection, it reads a little shamrock.

The problem? That golfer in mid-swing looks a whole lot like Irishman and longtime Team USA foe, Rory McIlroy. Having something that looks suspiciously like his outline isn’t something fans on either side are ignoring.

@elliotbradleygolfer Rory McIlroy on the USA teams official Ryder cup clothing? 🤣 #elliotbradleygolf #golfcoach #golf #golfpro #golfer ♬ original sound – Elliot Bradley

McIlroy has shaped golf for more than a decade: Four majors, over 40 professional wins and an energy that makes golf more exciting than it should be. He helped lead Team Europe to victory at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, where the home team beat Team U.S.A. by a sizeable margin.

When asked if he could “confirm or deny” whether it was his silhouette on the shirt, McIlroy offered a different perspective.

“It looks more like Adam Scott than me, but yeah, I can see the resemblance. It looks a little similar.”

Scott, for those who favor mini golf over majors, is an Australian pro with not nearly as many accolades as the Irishman. McIlroy added that he wouldn’t mind if American fans wore the shirt, even if they think it’s him.

Ryder Cup merch is big business. At the 2021 Ryder Cup in Wisconsin, the merch tent spanned 60,000 square feet and carried more than 1,300 items. The 2023 event generates over $300 million in economic activity. Bethpage is expected to hit the same level. And those numbers don’t even account for online sales.

That’s what makes the shirt’s sudden disappearance from both the Ralph Lauren and Ryder Cup sites even more noticeable. Neither the brand nor the PGA offered up an explanation. The tee simply disappeared in an Irish goodbye.