Thomas warns Ryder Cup fans: loved ones off-limits as New York crowd set to roar Bethpage

Justin Thomas said Ryder Cup crowds are as passionate as ever, but warned that players’ loved ones are off-limits as the rivals prepare to clash at Bethpage Black on Long Island. Speaking at a Tuesday news conference ahead of his fourth Ryder Cup, the American noted that the event can be a charged, home-field affair, particularly in New York, where crowd energy often spills from support into taunts.

Ryder Cup crowds have a long history of color, and the New York environment is known for its no-holds-barred atmosphere. The talk around this year’s matches has centered on the possibility of intensified intensity, especially after European supporters taunted Patrick Cantlay in 2023 for not wearing a cap. That episode underscored the friction that can accompany the biennial event, which will unfold on the famed Bethpage Black layout this week. In the run-up, former players also weighed in on how far fans should go, with Andrew Coltart among those cautioning that the wives and girlfriends of Luke Donald’s European team should steer clear of the course to avoid becoming targets of crowd ire.

Thomas, in his fourth Ryder Cup, acknowledged that fans are fair game when the players perform or struggle, but said there is a line that should not be crossed. “Ryder Cup, you kind of know what you're going to get,” he said. “If we're not playing well and you're talking trash about us, we probably deserve it. But if you start getting into the loved ones, that's when everybody starts really kind of getting a little bit chippy. I go back and forth. There’s obviously never in any sport a time to get personal or disrespectful, but at the same time it is the Ryder Cup, and it’s a home game for a reason. There’s been plenty of good, plenty of bad on both ends, and you hope to give them reason to cheer for the good.”

Thomas added that, for better or worse, the New York crowd has a special place in his view of this Ryder Cup. “Something that will be unique about New York maybe versus other home Ryder Cups, if you will, is they expect us to play well and they want us to play well, and if we don't, they're going to be upset with us and disappointed with us and rightfully so,” he said. “I think New York is known as — they like their championships. They want to win. It’s no different for the Ryder Cup. That's what we're going to try to do for them and give them a reason to cheer even more. But I've said it all year and all along, I'm happy to have them on my side, that's for sure.”

The European side is preparing for the same roar from the stands, albeit with a plan to blunt the noise that accompanies a home-team advantage. Europe’s captain, Luke Donald, has experimented with a range of techniques designed to mitigate distraction and maintain focus on the course. Among the strategies discussed in the lead-up to Friday’s matches are immersive technologies, including virtual reality headsets that simulate the sights and sounds of a Ryder Cup atmosphere. The aim is to better prepare players for a night-and-day contrast between quiet practice rounds and the frenetic energy of competitive play on race day. Donald has indicated that the technology could serve as a tool to tune out or reframe the sensory input that comes from a crowd eager to see its team perform.

The approach reflects a broader shift in how teams prepare for the event, recognizing that fans’ behavior—whether supportive or antagonistic—can influence rhythm, tempo and decision-making under pressure. In recent years, the Ryder Cup has evolved into a spectacle where national pride, media focus and fan engagement intersect in real time, amplifying the stakes for both sides.

The Bethpage environment also raises logistical and safety considerations that organizers and players have been cautious to acknowledge. While Thomas welcomed the energy of the New York crowd, he stressed the importance of keeping the realm of competition clean and respectful. That sentiment aligns with organizers’ expectations that fans will bring intensity without crossing lines that could jeopardize players’ families or cross the line into personal affronts. As the week progresses, the focus will remain on shot-making and matchplay strategy, with the atmosphere serving as a backdrop to the competition rather than the primary storyline.

Beyond the immediate tension of the crowd dynamics, the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black features teams with a mix of veteran experience and rising stars. Thomas’s comments come as part of a broader dialogue about how players cope with the emotional cadence of match play while managing media narratives and public attention. The event runs through the weekend, with a schedule that will test both sides’ endurance and adaptability as the course firmed up and the weather—typical for late September in New York—plays a factor in club selection and shot choices. As Friday’s rounds approach, all eyes will be on how well European and American squads can translate crowd energy into consistent, high-quality golf under pressure.