Air Force One soaring low over Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y., signaled President Donald Trump’s arrival at the Ryder Cup on Friday, a spectacle impossible to ignore.
According to Yahoo Sports, Trump’s presence at the first tee and 18th green drew a polarized crowd response of cheers and boos, reflecting the divided sentiments often surrounding his public appearances. The U.S. team, already struggling with losses in the first three matches, seemed to grasp at any spark of energy his arrival might provide.
Amid an atmosphere of uncertainty for American fans, the flyover and Trump’s entrance offered a fleeting moment of distraction from a rough start. Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay managed a win to avoid a complete morning rout, but the mood at Bethpage remained tense as the president settled in.
Trump’s attendance required a fortress-like setup at the venue, with TSA-style screening stations encircling the clubhouse and key viewing areas. Snipers perched on rooftops and even among grandstand spectators underscored the heightened alertness in today’s public climate.
The president’s motorcade rolled onto the property as golfers like Sepp Straka and J.J. Spaun continued putting nearby, seemingly unfazed by the commotion. Trump briefly vanished into the clubhouse before emerging at the players’ tunnel near the first green.
When he stepped out, the crowd’s reaction split sharply, with audible boos echoing through the stands in a state that has consistently voted against him. Yet, chants of his name soon countered the dissent, revealing the loyal support he still commands in pockets of the audience.
Wearing golf shoes and skipping the tie, Trump waved to the crowd from a plexiglass-walled booth as afternoon matches loomed. The boos might sting less when you consider the louder jeers aimed at European players like Jon Rahm shortly after.
U.S. captain Keegan Bradley, clearly aiming to lift spirits, remarked, “We just had the president fly over in his Air Force One, so I have a feeling things are going to turn here.” Nice try, but a flyover can’t swing a golf match, and banking on symbolic boosts feels like a long shot when the scorecard tells a grim story.
Bradley himself paid homage with a playful dance and bow toward Trump before the matches, a gesture of respect or perhaps a bid for some reflected charisma. Players like Scottie Scheffler and J.J. Spaun also acknowledged the president, showing his influence extends beyond politics into the sports arena.
Bryson DeChambeau and Ben Griffin got a personal escort when Trump left his booth to walk them to the first tee for their match against Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose. Standing behind them as they teed off, he positioned himself as more than a spectator, almost a symbolic coach for the moment.
Bradley had earlier expressed genuine appreciation, saying, “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.” While the sentiment rings true for many who value national pride in sports, skeptics might wonder if such fanfare distracts from the actual game.
Trump’s schedule, per the White House, had him staying at Bethpage until mid-afternoon before heading back to Washington. By then, the U.S. team’s fate in this Ryder Cup could be clearer, though his presence alone won’t tip the scales against a determined European squad.
For all the pomp of his arrival, Trump’s time at the Ryder Cup encapsulates the broader cultural split we see everywhere these days, from politics to public events. Cheers and boos alike remind us that even a golf course isn’t immune to the fault lines running through society.
His supporters likely see this as a bold show of backing for American athletes, a leader unafraid to stand with the team in tough times. Critics, however, might call it a distraction, questioning why a sporting event needs such a heavy political shadow when the focus should be on fairways and putts.
Whatever your take, Trump’s appearance at Bethpage Black didn’t change the scoreboard by 11:00 a.m. on Friday, and it won’t directly influence whether the U.S. can claw back over the weekend. But it did ensure that, for a few hours, the Ryder Cup was as much about who was watching as who was playing.
