The tension is mounting at Bethpage Black. The Long Island, New York, golf course, which will host the 2025 Ryder Cup (to be played from September 26-28), hopes to see a victory for Team USA over Team Europe. And it will use all the weapons at its disposal to achieve this. Starting with ‘psychological warfare’.The European team visited Bethpage Black for the first time on Wednesday, September 24, to play a practice round and get used to the conditions they will face during the Ryder Cup. Spain’s Jon Rahm was eagerly awaited by the American fans. As he made his way to his first shot, on the first hole he attempted on the day, he began to hear shouts from the crowd. “Hey, ‘Rahmbo’, where’s the Ozempic?” they said, in reference to the famous drug that is used, among other things, for weight loss.
The Europeans were aware of what they were going to encounter. Luke Donald, the captain of the European team, ordered virtual reality headsets and goggles for a group dinner three weeks ago. The aim was to reproduce insults, shouts and untimely noises that he thought his teammates might receive during the tournament. “We had to get them used to the atmosphere that is going to be experienced. In the end we have a very experienced team, but our obligation was to anticipate the sensations that they are going to experience on the first tee,” said the captain.
Avoiding a new ‘assault’
The last Ryder Cup to be played on American soil was in 2021, at Whistling Straits Golf Course in Wisconsin. On that occasion, the United States won 19-9. Shane Lowry, who is again in the European team in this edition of the tournament, then complained that his wife had suffered serious insults from the local fans. Golfer Laura Davies, speaking to the Daily Mail, does not expect that situation to change: “At Whistling Straits, they definitely went overboard. I heard horrible things they said to the players. I hope it’s not too bad this time, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was just as bad or worse”.The Ryder Cup is held once every two years, and the venue alternates between Europe and the United States. The European team has snatched the trophy from the Americans on their home soil on four occasions: in 2012 (Medinah Country Club), 2004 (Oakland Hills), 1995 (Oak Hill) and 1987 (Muirfield Village). The Americans have not assaulted the home of the European team since 1993, when they won at The Belfry (Warwickshire, England).
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