The Ryder Cup can be an unforgiving event for any golfer. But for Team Europe arriving on American soil, the jeers and taunts were something they had to be prepared for as they arrived for practice rounds on Tuesday at Bethpage Black.
The gates opened early for practice rounds, yet from Tuesday morning, Team Europe members were greeted not with respectful nods, but loud boos.
Rory McIlroy, arriving first at the tee, waved to varied reactions-supporters cheered, but overwhelmingly, the crowd responded with jeers. Jon Rahm, too, heard his share: first, a yell of “Hey Rahmbo, where’s the Ozempic?”, a mocking reference to weight-loss medication often used in public discourse.
For McIlroy, the crowd behavior was predictable. “It’s an inevitability,” he said of the abuse before even leaving Europe. But experience doesn’t make it easy, the impact lingers.
Team Europe captain Luke Donald, anticipating this, has prepped his squad with unconventional methods. To acclimate them, he’s had young players listen to recorded insults, paid actors to heckle during rehearsed rounds, and used other tools to build mental resilience.
A building storm: preparation and expectations
Four years ago, Dame Laura Davies declared that the insults hurled at Team Europe had crossed a line. Golf legends were treated like pantomime villains, booed relentlessly, hurled invectives, and even Shane Lowry’s wife suffered what Lowry described as “dog’s abuse” from “drunken idiots.”
Donald has made no secret of his belief that preparing for crowd hostility is critical. “I think my job as captain is to prepare the guys for every scenario,” he said. Europe’s roster is stacked with veterans who understand this kind of environment-but New York is a different beast.
Some of those veterans have made comments acknowledging the hostility is part of the experience, part ‘show’ more than breaking point. For Rahm, the Ozempic taunt wasn’t cathartic, but something to take with as much good humor as possible.
Later, it was reported that he felt virtual reality simulations made for pretentious practice did not hold a candle to the raw energy of real crowds. He said VR headsets, meant to mimic heckling, “fall short compared to the real-life fan atmosphere in New York.”
Each shout, each cheer, and each insult is part of the fabric of the Ryder Cup-matching pride with provocation. Donald has encouraged players to share what they’ve learned, what they would do differently, which mistakes to avoid, and how to maintain composure.
There’s a deep tradition here. Over decades, European players have become accustomed to being the target-especially in U.S. Ryder Cups-and in many ways this crowd behavior is viewed as wallpaper to match the décor.
But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting, particularly when insults cross from generic heckling to deeply personal or mocking territory.
A mental challenge for Team Europe
Europe’s challenge is not just in swinging clubs, but in mental control. Between now and Friday’s first round, the comfort for many players comes from knowing their captain has anticipated the behavior and drilled them with practice in handling it.
But walking into a crowd chanting “U-S-A” or something more pointed requires resolve and practice to block out the literal noise.
The Ryder Cup’s legacy for Europe is rooted in resilience; this week, that is being put to the test. Whether the boats and boos will shape the result remains to be seen. But what is clear is that Europe has molded its preparation not just on greens and fairways, but in grit and emotional armor.
As the competition looms, one question remains: can Europe turn adversity into fuel? Or will the fans have already had their moment, leaving players distracted, off rhythm, or emotionally worn? Bethpage Black isn’t just hosting a match, it’s going to host a crucible.
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