European Ryder Cup player unimpressed with Trump's attendance: 'Just another spectator'

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — President Donald Trump is slated to attend the first day of this weekend's Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black on Friday, a development that has drawn attention ahead of the matches. Team USA captain Keegan Bradley said he will be on the first tee and could hardly contain his excitement, underscoring the ceremonial and competitive significance the president's appearance has taken on for the host nation.

On the European side, Robert MacIntyre did not share the enthusiasm. "It's just another spectator," he said when asked about Trump’s attendance and his Scottish heritage, including Turnberry ownership that has long tied Trump to golf in Britain. "Again, I just play golf. I don't — politics and stuff is out of my mind. I mean, I'm not bright enough, for one, to be worrying about politics. I'm worrying more about what goes on this week on the golf course. Yeah, as a European, we've got a job to do, and yeah, try and compete as hard as we can and hopefully win the Ryder Cup."

The stance from MacIntyre reflects a broader focus among players as the biennial matches unfold at Bethpage Black. The Ryder Cup will be the third major sporting event Trump attends in September, all of them in New York. He was present for the men's U.S. Open final on Sept. 7 and attended a New York Yankees game against the Detroit Tigers four days later, a stretch that coincides with the 24th anniversary of Sept. 11. The appearances have drawn scrutiny and commentary across the sports landscape as the event approaches.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler signaled that Trump's arrival on Friday could carry symbolic weight for the U.S. team, describing the moment as "extremely important" after what he called a "tough few weeks" for the country. "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," Scheffler told reporters at Bethpage on Tuesday.

The opening tee time is set for 7:10 a.m. ET, and the opening rounds will feature the intense competition and pageantry that have defined the Ryder Cup in recent years. While the event is about golf’s fiercest rivalries and team strategy, the presence of a sitting president has injected an extra layer of national significance and media attention as teams from the United States and Europe prepare to battle for the Cup.

As the competition tees off, technology and broadcast reach will amplify the event for fans nationwide, with coverage and analysis building toward the weekend’s critical matches. The dynamic surrounding Trump’s attendance — from the political to the sports-first lens — remains a backdrop to the fierce performances on the course, where the athletes’ focus will be on securing victories for their teams and country.

The Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black marks a high-profile moment in a year landscape that has seen public attention swing between sports milestones and national headlines. While MacIntyre and other European players emphasize their job is to compete and win on the course, the broader spectacle surrounding the event continues to reflect the era’s ongoing intersections of sports and politics. The opening day will offer a first glimpse of how players manage the dual demands of performance and audience in a setting that is as much about national pride as it is about golf artistry.