FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — The United States team was in a 3-0 hole early on the first day of the 45th Ryder Cup, and captain Keegan Bradley was asked what he wanted to see from his group in the afternoon.
“Well,” Bradley said, “we just had the President fly over in Air Force One, so I’ve got a feeling things are going to turn here.”
President Donald Trump and his granddaughter Kai Trump arrived at Bethpage Black just after noon local time Friday, invigorating a partisan crowd that had begun to lose steam in the face of a Team Europe lead.
Trump’s visit was timed to avoid inflicting even more traffic and security issues around the Long Island course. Spectators and volunteers arriving in the early-morning hours were met with heavy, snarling traffic and some road closures around Bethpage State Park. There were small groups of Trump protestors and counter-protestors occupying sidewalk corners.
Trump and his granddaughter, both avid golfers, were seated in a glass-protected secure area at the front of the main grandstand behind the first tee and 18th green. Fans needed to pass through an additional layer of TSA-style security to enter the area.
When players entered in advance of afternoon play, Trump stood up to walk and chat with Bryson DeChambeau and Bradley. DeChambeau is a supporter of the president and has filmed an episode of his YouTube series, “Break 50,” with Trump.
“I hope he will inspire us to victory,” DeChambeau said Thursday. “I think he’ll be a great force for us to get a lot of people on our side. I think it will be interesting and exciting to see how the crowd and everybody reacts. It’s going to be an electric environment.”
This was Trump’s third visit to a sporting event in the New York metro this month. His presence at the U.S. Open men’s singles final on Sept. 7 caused a 48-minute delay due to additional security. He then visited the New York Yankees’ clubhouse on the anniversary of 9/11.
In between matches teeing off at No. 1, loudspeakers played music ranging from “New York Groove” to “YMCA.” The latter is frequently played at Trump rallies and had some of his supporters dancing.
But “New York Groove” was perhaps the more on-theme choice.
Bethpage Black, the most famous public course in the U.S., is hosting its first Ryder Cup and has attracted thousands of fans from the surrounding area. In addition to the standard American flag-themed outfits, including overalls and capes, fans wore “I Love New York” hats, Team USA hockey jerseys and the blue and red of the New York Giants.
The U.S. team could use every ounce of support. The hosts trailed Europe 3-1 at the end of the morning foursomes matches and were trying to claw back some points during the afternoon session.
–Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media
