Rahm heckled with 'where's the Ozempic?' as Europe faces hostile New York crowd at Ryder Cup

Jon Rahm was met by chants of 'where's the Ozempic?' as he warmed up for the Ryder Cup on Bethpage Black in New York on Tuesday, a reminder of the test awaiting Europe amid a highly charged atmosphere ahead of the competition’s start this Friday. The Spaniard is part of a Europe team that includes Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick and captain Luke Donald, all bidding to become only the fifth side to win the Ryder Cup on American soil.

Fans in New York are expected to line up behind a host nation that has long tempered expectations for visiting European teams, a dynamic that organizers and players alike say could produce a noisy, at times heated, backdrop. Rahm’s first tee moment was punctuated by a shout from the crowd: "Hey Rahmbo, where's the Ozempic?" The taunts underscore a pattern European players have faced on foreign soil in recent Ryder Cups, a reality that one former opponent highlighted as a concern for the week.

The episode comes as Rahm and the rest of Team Europe shift focus from practice rounds to the official team functions in the run-up to Thursday’s practice session and Friday’s opening matches. European captain Luke Donald leads a squad that also features veterans and rising stars, all aware that the atmosphere in New York is expected to be markedly more raucous than at some recent venues.

Off the course, the Europeans have taken steps to build camaraderie and insulate against distractions. The team gathered for the Ryder Cup Welcome Dinner at Hempstead House in Sands Point, New York, on Monday night, a long-standing tradition that affords players and their partners a chance to unwind and bond before competition begins. Rahm arrived with his wife, Kelley Rahm, who wore a bronze gown with crystal detailing, while Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll attended in formal attire. The European WAGs were photographed together outside the historic estate, sharing a group selfie that captured a moment of levity amid the seriousness of the week.

The dinner drew a lineup of Europe’s stars, including Rahm, McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland, all posing for photographs and posing in their team’s formal attire as they prepared for the week ahead. The event is designed to foster team unity and provide a quiet counterpoint to the anticipated thunder of the galleries when matches begin on Friday.

The 2025 Ryder Cup officially begins on Friday, September 26, at Bethpage Black on Long Island, one of the PGA Tour’s most demanding layouts. The choice of course adds to the challenge facing both sides, with the rough playing up and the Bermuda greens expected to test precision and nerve in equal measure. For Team Europe, the week is as much about navigation of a hostile crowd as it is about navigating the course’s rigors.

Some current and former players have warned that the New York atmosphere could push lines of decorum to the limit. Dame Laura Davies, speaking to a media outlet, recalled past Ryder Cups in which European families and friends received abuse during away events and suggested there is a risk the environment could escalate if the European team gains momentum early. The memory of four years ago at Whistling Straits, where players reported abuse that extended to their support networks, weighs on many players as they prepare to hit the course this week.

For Rahm and his teammates, the focus remains on competing at a high level while managing the crowd’s energy. The European team under Donald will seek to translate a blend of experienced leadership and emerging talent into strong showings in the foursomes, four-ball and singles sessions. The dynamic of a Yankees-evoking atmosphere in New York is acknowledged by players as part of the Ryder Cup experience, and the hope among European supporters is that strong play and steady handling of the crowd can quiet the crowds when it matters most.

As the competition approaches, the mood inside the event’s calendar continues to mix pageantry with pressure. The Welcome Dinner and other team-building activities are designed to help players focus on strategy, partnership and performance rather than the provocation that can accompany away matches. The schedule lays out a busy week of practice rounds, media duties and the onset of competition, with the first matches scheduled to tee off on Friday on a course that will demand accuracy off the tee, smart course management and resilience from players facing a New York crowd known for its ardor.

In the run-up to the event, Rahm and his European teammates have emphasized the importance of staying within themselves and relying on their preparation. The talks surrounding the crowd, the taunts, and the pressure of competing on American soil are all factors that the European camp is treating as part of the Ryder Cup experience rather than as distractions that could derail their focus.

The Ryder Cup’s unique format and the high-stakes environment are expected to produce moments of tension and triumph alike. As Rahm and his teammates step onto Bethpage Black, their performance on this demanding course will be measured not only by their scores but also by how effectively they navigate the electric atmosphere surrounding this storied event. The coming days promise a blend of precision golf and spirited crowd energy, with Team Europe aiming to close the gap on a home-side advantage that has persisted in recent iterations of the biennial match.