Luke Donald urges Ryder Cup organisers to avoid US Open-style disruption over Trump visit

Team Europe captain Luke Donald has urged organisers of the Ryder Cup to learn lessons from the disruption at the US Open after President Donald Trump's attendance there delayed the men's singles final and left hundreds of fans struggling to gain entry.

The US Open men's final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, scheduled to start at 2 p.m. local time on Sunday, was pushed back and ultimately did not begin until 2:49 p.m. amid significantly increased security measures associated with the president's visit. Tournament staff required spectators to empty their pockets and pass through airport-style scanners, producing long queues and partly empty stands as play was due to begin. Media were also asked by the United States Tennis Association not to show "any disruptions or reactions in response to the president’s attendance in any capacity," according to an email reported before the match.

"We were told that he's coming. We don't know the details yet and I think the tours are talking with The PGA of America to get more information," Donald said, referring to reports that Trump intends to be on the first tee during the opening day of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in about two weeks. "I guess he will want to be on the first tee. Again, we understand that he's coming and both teams will be ready for that. There was some delays at the tennis and I think we’re probably all aware of that, but hopefully they have learnt from that."

Donald acknowledged the logistical challenge of hosting a sitting or former president at a major sporting event. "It's a big process, obviously, to get a president to come to an event — there's a lot of security and everything. It takes some work and the PGA of America's job is to make sure it's seamless. I think the crowd is probably going to be loud no matter what," he added.

At the US Open, Trump attended with an entourage that reports said included White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and family members. He was seen arriving at LaGuardia Airport and entered Arthur Ashe Stadium roughly 40 minutes before the revised 2:30 p.m. start time that was later pushed back again. The national anthem and the match began with a mix of boos and cheers from the crowd, and numerous fans were still in line to enter minutes before play began.

Ryder Cup organisers and the PGA of America have not publicly detailed security plans tied to the president's stated intention to attend. Donald said discussions were ongoing between the tours and the PGA of America and stressed that the priority for organisers should be minimizing disruption to spectators and players. The Ryder Cup, a biennial team contest between Europe and the United States, is scheduled to begin at Bethpage Black, a public course known for tight fairways and large galleries, heightening concerns about access and crowd management.

The US Open incident underscored how presidential visits can alter standard event operations and create delays when additional screening and controlled access measures are imposed. For players and captains planning for the Ryder Cup — where atmosphere and momentum can be decisive — maintaining the rhythm of competition and ensuring timely entry for ticket holders will be a key operational test.

Donald said both teams will prepare for a loud crowd and that organisers must ensure the security process is executed smoothly so the event proceeds without the kind of entry problems that affected the tennis final. The Ryder Cup remains one of golf's highest-profile team events, and organisers face the challenge of balancing security protocols with the expectations of tens of thousands of spectators over multiple days at Bethpage Black.