It may not be the only show in world golf this week, but it might as well be.
Since Scottie Scheffler tapped in from about a foot on the 72nd hole at Royal Portrush, the Ryder Cup has been the metaphorical elephant in every elite men’s golfing room, and we’re now just 48 hours from the opening tee shots being hit.
The teams are long picked, the uniforms decided, heads measured to ensure that all hats fit, and the overall golf course setup finalised.
So, what remains to be picked over?
Well, in this series we’ll take a look at the big questions that remain to be answered.
2. How much of a factor will the crowd be?
12 years ago this week, the PGA of America announced that the Black Course at Bethpage State Park would be the venue for the 2025 Ryder Cup, which means that for more than a decade, the “New York” crowd has been one of the focal talking points.
And not without reason.
Anybody who’s ever spent any time in the Big Apple can attest that the people are unique. I first went there as an 18-year-old on a J1 visa, as wet behind the ears as any 18-year-old is likely to be, and while I’ll stop short of claiming that it made a man out of me, it definitely hastened the process because New Yorkers don’t suffer fools easily.
This was the summer after 9/11, patriotism was at an all-time high, and there was a sense of togetherness that those who’d lived there for decades were still amazed by. But even still, when it came to sports – I went to several Yankees games – visiting teams were met with unrivalled hostility.
And that’s exactly what the Europeans are expecting this week.
But how bad will it be?
Well, first things first, the “New York” crowd is a blanket term because there’ll be a healthy sprinkling of European fans, whether they’ve traveled across the Atlantic or are based in and around the tri-state area. There’ll also be U.S. fans from all over the country, and the $750-plus ticket pricing for competition days means that many average fans will be priced out.
But there’ll still be 50,000-plus spectators walking through the gates on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and in a crowd that big, even 20 or 30 people are a tiny minority but can make a loud racket.
Plus, when we’ve spent a dozen years talking about how loud, boisterous and downright obnoxious many of the fans will be, some will take that as a challenge to be risen to. And as we’ve often seen, mob mentality is a powerful thing. And the common enemy, decked in blue, must be let know that they are on hostile ground.
As much as the Europeans expect it and have tried to prepare for it, no amount of simulation can replicate the actual environment they’ll be stepping into. But some players thrive off that hostility, and on the flipside, under the weight of expectation, others wilt. And the ire of the fans can quickly turn if their expectations aren’t being met.
But Rory McIlroy’s throwaway, “that’s exactly what we’re going to do at Bethpage” comment, made in the immediate aftermath of the win in Rome, may have been a ‘heat of the moment,’ ’emboldened by a couple of beers’ quip, but it’s been played back many times since and will have struck a nerve. And it’ll prompt a ‘not in my backyard’ response.
But that’s all fine, as long as the taunts, jeers and cheers occur at the right time. If they begin to creep into a player’s backswing, or start to have a direct influence on shots, then it’ll be a step too far.
To avoid this, the PGA of America’s security team may have to make an early example and eject somebody before they down too many of the $15 and $19 beers to forget about the $750 and more they’ve shelled out on the ticket in the first place.
Then again, one stare and a half-step towards from Jon Rahm might be enough to put manners on anybody, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that….
The early week interactions have been positive, the Europeans ingratiating themselves well by signing tons of autographs, having fun, and exchanging friendly banter, but practice rounds and actual competition are completely different beasts.
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