Rory McIlroy has called out the hostile New York crowd for "unacceptable and abusive behavior" during Europe's successful defence of golf's Ryder Cup.

Over his five matches at Bethpage Black, McIlroy endured a torrent of insults about everything from his personal life to past failures on the golf course.

People shouted out as he lined up to swing and putt. His wife was hit by a cup of beer.

"What happened here this week is not acceptable," McIlroy said on said Sunday after going 3-1-1 to help Europe to a 15-13 victory over the US.

His lone loss came in a Sunday singles match with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who had also played in all five rounds.

It was McIlroy's most blunt assessment yet of a New York crowd that Europe fully expected to be rowdy and passionate.

The 36-year-old Northern Irishman sometimes pushed back — whirling around and cursing at his hecklers or stepping away from a shot until the riled masses settled down.

On Saturday, he told boisterous fans to "shut the f*** up" before knocking his an approach shot to three feet to set up a clinching put in the morning's foursomes match.

When there was more golf to play, McIlroy stayed guarded in his post-match interviews.

But with the crowds gone and the Ryder Cup in hand, the five-time major champion let loose.

"I don't think we should ever accept that in golf," McIlroy told reporters.

"I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.

"Golf has the ability to unite people. Golf teaches you very good life lessons. It teaches you etiquette. It teaches you how to play by the rules. It teaches you how to respect people.

"Sometimes this week we didn't see that. So no, this should not be what is acceptable in the Ryder Cup."

The culprits, he noted, were the minority of a crowd full of "true golf fans" who were "respectful and let both teams have the same chance to hit the shots and play a fair contest."

And in the end, it was McIlroy who had the final word.

In April, he won the Masters after years of trying to complete the career grand slam.

On Sunday he won his sixth Ryder Cup in eight tries.