Why Donald Trump’s Ryder Cup appearance will cause chaos at Bethpage Black
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From umbrella bans to “frozen” spectator zones, Donald Trump’s Friday visit to Bethpage Black is set to make the Ryder Cup even more volatile – before a ball has even been struck.
Ryder Cup week is never short of talking points, and this week at Bethpage Black is no different.
Can Europe become the first team to win away since 2012? Will the New York crowd get out of control? Have Team USA got a big problem due to the golf balls their players use? Is it right that the American players are being paid to play?
And yet, much of the conversation this week has been about a man who won’t hit a single shot (though you wouldn’t completely rule that out), and may well be back on Air Force One before the first point is even on the board. Yes, you guessed it: the man taking much of the attention away from the players is none other than President Donald Trump.
List of banned items at the Ryder Cup extended due to Trump visit
Trump’s planned appearance for Friday has injected another layer of drama into what was always going to be a fiery opening day. With recent security flashpoints in the US, including the murder of Charlie Kirk, alongside protests and incidents at political events, fans heading to Bethpage have been warned to “expect enhanced security measures and additional restrictions in place”.
While any large sporting event involves a decent level of security checks, Trump’s presence has ramped things up at least a notch, meaning restricted movement around the course and an unusually long list of banned items.
Large umbrellas, hard-sided drinks bottles, laptops, folding chairs, range finders, torch-style lighters, large vaping devices – all off limits.
That means rain ponchos instead of umbrellas, plastic cups instead of Hydro Flasks, and plenty of queues as spectators shuffle through security screenings. In fact, organizers have even warned that areas inside and outside the gates may suddenly be “frozen” as Trump moves around the property. Translation: delays, detours, and lots of standing around.
When Trump attended the US Open tennis final recently, thousands of fans were left trickling into the match due to the heightened security surrounding the president’s visit. The stadium was not yet at its expected capacity 45 minutes into the match, at which point Carlos Alcaraz already had a 6-2 lead over Jannik Sinner. In a statement, the Secret Service said that protecting the president “required a comprehensive effort” that “may have contributed to delays for attendees”. Trump, meanwhile, was met with a mixture of cheers and boos from the crowd.
When it comes to Trump’s Ryder Cup appearance, players and captains, for their part, are trying to embrace the moment.
“Something to remember forever”
“I really look forward to what that first tee is going to be like with the President on the tee,” said Keegan Bradley. “I think this first tee at Bethpage is going to be a sporting event to remember across any sport, and then you add on the President of the United States standing there, I really think it’s going to be something that everyone will remember forever.”
“It shows how big the Ryder Cup is”
Luke Donald, Europe’s captain, struck a more diplomatic tone: “Anytime a sitting president wants to come to an event, it just shows how big the Ryder Cup is. You’ve got to see that as a mark of respect. President Trump is obviously a big supporter of golf and he knows a lot of the players this week and has met them before. I think you see it as that, as a mark of respect, that a sitting President wants to support an event when he has a very busy schedule. To find time for that shows something.”
“If things go well, I’m sure we’ll hear from him”
“I think our team as a whole, we’re very proud to be Americans,” said Scottie Scheffler, who also revealed he receives text messages from Trump. “I think the flag means a lot to us. Being here in New York I think is very special as well. And to have the President here, it’s been a tough few weeks for our country with some of the stuff that’s been going on, and to have our President here and for us to represent the United States of America, albeit being in a golf tournament, is extremely important for us and we’re excited to be on home soil with the home crowd and we’re ready to get this tournament started.
“I don’t think he has any plans to address us as a team, but I’m sure if things go well, we’ll hear from him this week.”
“I don’t know what I’m allowed to say”
“Obviously he’s going to bring a lot of attention and patriotism to the event,” said Justin Rose. “By all accounts, he’s going to be in – I don’t know what I’m allowed to say, but I don’t think he’s going to necessarily be on the tee box with us or roaming the course.
“So from that point of view, I think there will just be a lot of noise around it, but I’m not sure there will be the continued distraction of it. But again, I could be wrong, just based upon what I’ve heard, how they’re going to handle his movements around the property.
“Listen, it’s great for golf that he’s engaged in the game and obviously he brings a lot of eyeballs with him.
“Fan-wise, I’m sure Friday afternoon will certainly be very intense and entertaining.”
Still, Rose couldn’t resist a smile when asked whether Trump might join the European team on the podium if they were to retain the trophy – as he did when Chelsea won the FIFA Club World Cup in the summer.
“One hundred percent, yeah, [I] would love to have that opportunity,” said Rose. “Listen, I’m not sure he’s going to want to be on the stage congratulating the team that wins in his backyard. But of course, he’s the President, ultimate respect, and that would be a great opportunity.”
Whether Trump is front and center on the tee or carefully ushered in and out of Bethpage behind the scenes, his presence guarantees chaos, theatre, and headlines. It also means fans will need to pack light, expect delays, and prepare for the most high-security Ryder Cup in history.
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Donald Trump will attend the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black on Friday.
