Marshals vs. Guardians: Ryder Cup fan rivalry takes center stage in the 'most aggressive place on Earth'

At the Ryder Cup, the competition on the course is increasingly matched by a competition in the stands. This year’s edition is defined by two rival fan blocs whose energy helps shape the weekend. The Marshals, a 13-member group from Minnesota, travel with customized red-white-and-blue hockey jerseys and Helga horns, aiming to give the United States a 13th-man edge on the course. They describe their role as part of a long-running tradition in which devoted fans become part of the competition itself. The Guardians of the Cup, traveling from Europe, mount a parallel surge of chants and songs, creating a back-and-forth rhythm that has become a signature aspect of the event. Coverage of the Ryder Cup has described the atmosphere as among the most aggressive places on Earth for fans, underscoring how far the rivalry extends beyond the fairways.

Jeff "JD" Drimel, a Marshals member, says the gathering is "probably the most expensive cheerleading weekend in the year" as fans craft handwritten lyrics and chants. The group’s approach is to turn each moment into a coordinated display, from pre-shot rituals to post-round choruses, helping to elevate the Ryder Cup beyond a standard golf tournament. The two camps—Marshals and Guardians—are part of a broader identity the event has cultivated, one that blends pageantry with sport and invites rival spectators to shape the experience in real time.

Equally visible are the Guardians of the Cup, a European contingent that travels to the event to join the chorus from the other side, promising the same level of energy and pageantry but from a different tradition. The dynamic creates a dialogue that feels less like a single competition and more like a festival of fan culture, where rivals acknowledge one another’s presence and keep the energy high through long days on the course.

Even as the cheers rise, the event’s organizers are mindful of the contrast with other golf venues. The Ryder Cup’s atmosphere is distinct, and some observers note differences with venues known for more manufactured experiences. Jim Kopp, a Marshals member, describes the 16th hole at the Waste Management Open as a "manufactured party." He and others say Ryder Cup fans aim for a more organic, self-generated form of celebration that still feels highly choreographed to outsiders, a distinction that underscores the event’s unique blend of sport and spectacle.

The result is a weekend that blends competition and spectacle, where every hole becomes a stage for a chorus of voices. The Marshals’ ninth Ryder Cup and the continuous presence of the Guardians reflect a broader trend: fans who invest time, money and creativity into their personas and rituals. The atmosphere is not merely background noise; it is a defining element of the Ryder Cup experience, a reason some players and officials say the event stands apart from other major golf occasions. As the weekend unfolds, both sides bring their own culture to the course, ensuring the Ryder Cup remains a focal point for fans who treat it as much a weekend of performance as a weekend of play.