Hoards of golf fans flooded to Bethpage Black ahead of the beginning of one of the most highly-anticipated Ryder Cups in history as early as 4am on Friday morning, with heightened security measures in place amid the arrival of President Donald Trump.
When the gates at the famous New York golf club opened at 5am EST – ahead of the first four-ball just after 7am – there was a stampede as fans scrambled to secure a spot in the grand stand.
There’s been a huge build-up to the event this week as Team Europe, spearheaded by Rory McIlroy, look to become only the fifth side in history to win the cup on American soil. But one of the biggest talking points of them all has been the arrival of Donald Trump on Friday morning.
The controversial political leader is expected to arrive shortly before noon as the second round of four-balls begin.
Trump’s attendance comes a little over a year after he was shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania and just two weeks after the fatal shooting of his friend and ally Charlie Kirk. There have therefore been a host of safety guidelines introduced at the event in order to ensure his safety.
A number of items typically allowed at major golf events, for instance, have been banned at Bethpage Black in the grand stand and clubhouse area of the course.
Fans raced to Bethpage Black as early as 5am this morning ahead of the start of the Ryder Cup
The grandstand was completely full more than two hours before the first four-ball
President Donald Trump is expected to arrive at the event at around 11:30 EST
Portable chargers, folding chairs, insulated beverage containers and large umbrellas are not permitted, neither are range finders.
Back in July 2024, security services reportedly flagged a man using a range finder around 20 minutes before Trump was shot at in Pennsylvania. The gadgets are routinely used by golfers to work out the distance between their ball and the hole.
There were also increased levels of security in the early hours of this morning as supporters flooded to the venue.
Fans were spotted sprinting towards security check-ups in order to gain a good seat, where they were thoroughly checked before being permitted into the course.
Pictures show the grandstand, situated near the first tee, completely full more than two hours before the scheduled start of play shortly after 7am. Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton take on Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas in the day’s first four-ball.
DeChambeau, who’s publicly backed Trump, hopes his attendance will ‘inspire’ Team USA to victory.
‘I think he’ll be a great force for us to get a lot of people on our side,’ he said.
‘I think it will be interested and exciting to see how the crowd and everybody reacts, It’s going to be an electric environment.’
Waves of fans were spotted sprinting towards security check-ups hours before the start of play
Ahead of the arrival of President Trump, a host of items usually permitted at major events have been banned
Strict security measures have also been put in place, just weeks after Trump-ally Charlie Kirk was shot dead
Trump supporter Bryson DeChambeau hopes the President’s attendance will inspire Team USA
As is typical on American soil, the crowd so far this week have been extremely vocal in expressing their views about both the home and away players.
The Americans, particularly DeChambeau, have been loudly cheered while Team Europe have been depicted as pantomime villains – even during practice rounds.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy was one of the first golfers from the away team to arrive at the first tee, greeting the crowd with a wave as the travelling supporters cheered.
Those cries of support were soon drowned out by a loud chorus of boos – a chorus which followed the Irishman, and indeed the rest of his team-mates, around the entire course.
It likely came as no surprise to arguably Europe’s most well-renowned golfer. ‘It’s an inevitability,’ he told reporters about crowd abuse before arriving on American shores.
Spaniard Jon Rahm, a two-time major winner, was one of the next up on the first tee.
The first shout to greet the former Master’s champion: ‘Hey Rahmbo, where’s the Ozempic?’
Rahm is the first European on the tee this morning in New York along with Hatton – the duo will undoubtedly be given a hostile reception.
