President Donald Trump is not expected to be at the first tee when the Ryder Cup gets underway on Friday at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y.
Instead, Trump reportedly will delay his arrival in order to avoid the lengthy security backups that accompanied his visit to the U.S. Open men’s tennis final earlier this month.
A PGA of America spokesman told ESPN on Tuesday that they hope to receive final details on Trump’s schedule in the next 24 hours.
The first match of the opening foursomes (alternate shot) session Friday begins at 7:10 a.m. ET. The afternoon’s fourball (best ball) session is slated to begin at 12:25 p.m. ET.
U.S. captain Keegan Bradley and American superstar Scottie Scheffler, ranked No. 1 in the world, both said it is an honor to have Trump — an avid golfer who owns several courses around the world — in attendance.
“I’m deeply honored that the President of the United States is going to come support our team at the Ryder Cup,” Bradley said Tuesday. “I think anytime you can be around a current President is a pretty phenomenal thing, but when you’re representing your country at a place like Bethpage Black in New York, having the President there to support you is something that is just absolutely incredible. I’m really grateful to him for doing that for us.”
Scheffler said the team members are all “proud to be Americans.”
“I think the flag means a lot to us. Being here in New York I think is very special as well,” Scheffler said. “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.”
Team Europe is the defending Ryder Cup champion. The Americans have not lost on U.S. soil since 2012.
–Field Level Media
