Trump's Ryder Cup presence 'extremely important' after 'tough few weeks,' Scheffler says
Scottie Scheffler says the president's attendance on home soil could lift Team USA at Bethpage Black as the Ryder Cup begins; Keegan Bradley calls the move a meaningful gesture for the squad.
President Donald Trump will attend the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, on Friday, his third appearance at a New York sporting event this week after attending the men’s U.S. Open final on Sept. 7 and, four days later, a New York Yankees game against Detroit on the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black marks the first time the event has been staged in the New York metro area, pitting Team USA against Team Europe at the Long Island course as players prepare for competition.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said Trump’s presence is "extremely important" given the country’s recent challenges, and that having the president on home soil with the home crowd around the American team carries a meaningful weight. "To have the president here, it's been a tough few weeks for our country with some of the stuff that's been going on, and to have our president here and for us to represent the United States of America, albeit being in a golf tournament, is extremely important for us, and we're excited to be on home soil with the home crowd, and we're ready to get this tournament started," Scheffler told reporters at Bethpage on Tuesday.
I get a call or a text from him sometimes after wins. He just loves the game of golf, and he's one of those guys when you're around him, he does such a good job of, like, feeding confidence into everybody around him," Scheffler added. "That was one of the things I noticed a lot with the little bit of time I spent with him, is he treats everybody the same and treats people with the utmost respect. Whether you're the person serving us lunch or the caddie on the golf course or the guy who's the president of the club that we're at, he treats everybody like they're the greatest person in the world."
Team USA captain Keegan Bradley echoed Scheffler’s sentiment, saying he was "deeply honored" that the president would travel to support the Americans at Bethpage. "I'm deeply honored that the President of the United States is going to come support our team at the Ryder Cup. I think anytime you can be around a current president is a pretty phenomenal thing, but when you're representing your country at a place like Bethpage Black in New York, having the president there to support you is something that is just absolutely incredible. I'm really grateful to him for doing that for us," Bradley said.
Bradley also looked ahead to the moment the president steps to the first tee. "I really look forward to what that first tee is going to be like with the president on the tee. I think this first tee at Bethpage is going to be a sporting event to remember across any sport, and then you add on the President of the United States standing there, I really think it's going to be something that everyone will remember forever."
The president’s involvement in golf has been a recurring theme around major events in recent years. Trump visited his Doral course in Miami the day before a LIV Golf event earlier this year and played in a LIV Golf pro-am at his Washington, D.C., course in 2023. He has not attended a pro event as a fan since August 2023, when LIV went to his Bedminster, New Jersey, course. He did attend the closing ceremony at the 2017 Presidents Cup in Jersey City, New Jersey, where Team USA defeated Team International, according to coverage tied to the Ryder Cup run.
Bethpage Black will host the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2012, and this edition puts a spotlight on the rivalry between the two teams as both sides bring depth and form into a high-stakes match under the New York spotlight. The Ryder Cup’s presence in the New York area has added an extra layer of anticipation for fans and players alike, with the U.S. looking to capitalize on a home crowd and a positive atmosphere around a prominent national figure in attendance.
As the week unfolds, officials and players will navigate the series of exhibitions, practice rounds, and the opening ceremonies that precede the competition, with the top players eager to represent their country on home soil and make the Ryder Cup a memorable moment for fans across the country. The tension, history, and atmosphere surrounding Bethpage Black, along with the real-time politics and public interest around Trump’s involvement, are all part of the backdrop for a tournament that has long been celebrated for its team-centric drama and national pride.