Team USA’s advantage was supposed to be a frenzied home crowd at Bethpage Black.
However, after Europe’s hot start to the tournament, that never really materialised. Reports from the first tee said the atmosphere on the course was ‘muted’ compared to expectations—no need for the VR headsets Luke Donald used as preparation, then.
Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas teed off first in an attempt to rile up the home fans with two of Team USA’s most colorful characters. However, that effort quickly backfired when Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton beat them 4&3.
But the Americans may have quieted the rowdy atmosphere before the tournament even began, with the way they set up Bethpage Black.
America scored an own-goal with the treatment of Ryder Cup fans
Team USA needed their fans in the middle of their rounds, as Europe’s pairings of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, and Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick, took comfortable leads by the turn on Friday morning.
That was also the case in the afternoon, as Team USA got into a hot start in fourball.
But instead of a surge or support, they were met with the quietest atmosphere on the entire course. That’s because all of the hospitality and the major grandstands have been set up on the other side, on the closing holes.
Space was created around the 17th green to accommodate a larger crowd bringing their team home. Unfortunately for Keegan Bradley and Team USA, five of their games on Friday didn’t go long enough for the grandstands to come into play.
Instead, their players suffered defeat by a thousand cuts to eerie quiet.
Additionally, fans who did make it around the course to cheer on their country had to pay thousands to do so. Entry for a single day at Bethpage costs over $1,000, alienating a large percentage of would-be attendees.
A large number of hospitality attendees took their place, further dulling the atmosphere. The hectic home crowd, which was made so much of before the tournament, simply hasn’t made its mark on Europe.
Ryder Cup crowd was electric on the 18th green
The advantage the Americans do have, however, is the incredible atmosphere the grandstand on the 18th green had for the final match of Friday foursomes.
Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay beat Robert McIntyre and Viktor Hovland 2 Up, with a finish on the final hole. The Americans won the final two holes to secure their first point of the tournament.
Cantlay was then involved in Team USA’s most important match of the tournament so far, taking on McIlroy and Shane Lowry alongside Sam Burns. Cantlay helped keep America’s hopes alive, digging deep for a half point in the final holes.
The fan advantage in the closing two holes could well have willed them over the line. In the morning session, McIntyre had to back off his tee shot on the 17th due to the noise coming from the crowd.
Yes, Team USA may have to brace through the storm in the middle of the round. Their reward- a blockbuster finish, and a tsunami of noise that Bryson DeChambeau was expecting before the Ryder Cup.
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