Fitzpatrick heckled by American fans during Ryder Cup practice at Bethpage signals tougher atmosphere for visitors

Team Europe star Matt Fitzpatrick was heckled by American fans during a Ryder Cup practice round at Bethpage Black, a developing sign of the partisan atmosphere visitors may face this week. In a video that circulated on social media, supporters could be heard taunting Fitzpatrick with comments such as, “Fitzy, what's going here brother,” as the Englishman struggled to chip from the rough toward the green. After the misfires, Fitzpatrick turned and flashed a smile toward the galleries, a brief moment that underscored how the environment could shape play in the days ahead.

With the home crowd expected to pack Long Island this weekend, there has been ongoing discussion about how much the energy from the stands can influence performances. Collin Morikawa, a star on the U.S. team, said he anticipates the crowd stepping up in intensity, describing Friday and Saturday as potentially chaotic. “I'll be honest, I think it's kind of tame so far, Tuesday and Wednesday. I know tomorrow is going to be pretty bad, but I hope Friday is just absolute chaos. I'm all for it. I think it feeds into who we are and the American players and the American team. We want it,” Morikawa said, adding that he would “love to see Cam Young just throw a massive fist pump in someone's face.”

Europe has signaled a deliberate approach to channeling the atmosphere rather than inflaming it. The team has drawn from the playbook associated with Bernhard Langer, the 2004 Ryder Cup captain who encouraged polarizing stars to engage the galleries in a constructive way. On Tuesday, a long line of European players walked up the slope between the 17th green and the 18th tee, signing flags and pictures for fans. Justin Rose even signed the shirt of a bare-chested, well-refreshed American supporter, while Rory McIlroy spent more time than usual signing autographs for young fans. Tommy Fleetwood struck a conciliatory note when asked about the home crowds on Wednesday morning. “Everybody was amazing yesterday. The job of the home crowd is to support the home team. You wouldn't hold anything against anybody in that way. But yesterday they were amazing. They were very supportive of us, and it's important.”

The buildup to Friday’s start has already featured a visible push by Europe to connect with the gallery in a positive, welcoming way, a strategy that aims to harness crowd energy rather than ignite it. Morikawa’s call for “absolute chaos” aside, the prevailing mood among European players has been to balance encouragement with composure, continuing to press the case for cordial exchanges even amid a partisan environment. As the Ryder Cup moves closer to its opening rounds, organizers and players alike are navigating what many expect to be a loud and emotionally charged atmosphere that could become a defining feature of this year’s competition.