Ryder Cup Kicks Off Friday at Bethpage Black

The highly anticipated 45th Ryder Cup is set to begin this Friday at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York. There’s a lot of buzz, especially around how the local fans known for their boisterous temperament might behave towards the European teams.

It’s no secret that fans around here—Irish, Italians, Puerto Ricans—tend to be loud and, well, a bit abrasive. The big question is: how far will they take it? Will they drive away the European players or hurl insults? What about their treatment of women? It’s hard to say, but the potential for chaos is definitely in the air.

I’m not sure if this level of hostility is a good thing.

I think it’s important to reel it in when respect is due. When I was 14, my older brother took me to a basketball game at the University of Maryland. We were playing against Duke, and honestly, we lost a lot of close games—which was surprising. Duke fans were celebrating loudly, and honestly, it made me pretty angry. I got up and confronted them, blocking their view and then just walked back without waiting for a reaction. Was that mature? Maybe not. I certainly didn’t show much respect, and while I’m not defending how they behaved, it was just really irritating. So, I’d say that’s a complicated issue. But to be fair, I don’t think New Yorkers should lash out at players who are merely there to compete. That’s not fair at all.

I was also annoyed by Bryson DeChambeau’s comments about how he “chirps” with Rory. It felt like a cheap shot. Bryson knows Rory will probably be targeted by the New York crowd, and it just feels a bit cowardly.

Rory has had his own moments dealing with Bryson’s constant need for attention. Sometimes, it seems like he only brings up others just to get noticed. Honestly, he doesn’t really need to engage with Bryson at all. But there’s this tendency to overdo things on YouTube and in trying to grow the game. Like, can we not? The other day at my country club, I had to wait just to tee off because of some young golfer trying to “raise the game.” Ugh. Enough already. We’re full.

Rory’s win at the Masters was a huge relief. It felt like a moment where he could finally say, “No more teasing from the Bethpage crowd!” Though, let’s be real, they might still find a way to do it. If I were Rory or any other European player, I’d recruit some rowdy fans to match the New York energy. They should definitely make a statement.

Golf should still have its traditions and civility. Bryson can make all the YouTube videos he wants, but he comes off as sort of a tool. People shouldn’t forget he jumped ship to LIV Golf for the money, while Rory turned down a massive offer and stayed loyal to the PGA. Those are two different paths.

Some sportswriters seem to be promoting this New York hostility, and honestly, I think that’s a pretty foolish idea. Is that what we really need? More animosity? Cooler heads should prevail, but it seems like that’s not what we’ll see.

So who’s going to win the Ryder Cup? Probably Team USA. The raucous local crowd will certainly give an advantage, likely pushing them to a close victory, maybe 15-13.

If I had to pick an MVP, I’d say Scotty Scheffler, simply because he’s currently one of the best players in the world. We might even see Russell Henley continue his strong showing if they team up. And let’s not forget Bryson—he thrives on crowd energy and knows how to rise to the occasion.