The Ryder Cup could be set for one of its most boisterous editions ever, with New York’s Bethpage Black playing host to the event later this month.
Bethpage Black should challenge both the United States and Team Europe given its difficulty, but the latter have the added disadvantage of playing away from home.
Luke Donald can expect a hostile welcome for himself and his players, while Keegan Bradley and the United States Ryder Cup team should receive huge backing.
The United States have been tipped to win the Ryder Cup, with pressure on their skipper to clinch a victory on home soil.
But it is this year’s visitors who represent the last team to achieve that feat, with Europe winning the 2012 Ryder Cup in Illinois.
What the European team have done to try and lessen the impact of the fans at the Ryder Cup
Donald will be eager to replicate the Miracle at Medinah at Bethpage, and his side are certainly doing all they can to cover every base.
As quoted by BBC Sport, 2014 Ryder Cup winning captain Paul McGinley has explained just before the event: “You take soccer or rugby players, they are used to that hostile environment because they play in it every second week. Golfers are not.
“It’s not the same as playing on the PGA Tour when it’s friendly fire: you miss a putt and there is polite applause, but with a lot of shouting and maybe some personal insults thrown at you can you reset yourself and drown out that noise and deliver?
“We’ve had some guest speakers from other sports speak to the players about playing in a hostile environment. We’re doing all we can to prepare the players mentally.”
Paul McGinley says what is different about Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler ahead of the Ryder Cup
McGinley will indeed be in the thick of it at Bethpage Black, where he will act as a strategic advisor to Donald.
It looks to be a wise choice from the captain, with McGinley having guided Europe to success at the event in Gleneagles many years ago.
The Irishman has, however, also raised a slight concern about one key European player right before the action starts.
He said of star man Rory McIlroy: “Rory has always been a volatile performer; his career has never been a straight line, there have been loads of dips and then he comes roaring back.
“Rory is charismatic, dynamic in how he plays, a risk-taker and he draws people in because he plays in the Arnold Palmer style.
“That guy is more hit and miss than a Scottie Scheffler, who plays the percentages, is very detailed and conservative in his approach.
“It is no surprise Scheffler is leading the world rankings and will do. I don’t know if Rory will ever lead the world rankings again because he doesn’t have the consistency Scottie has.
“Rory’s personality is in and out. He gets a flourish, he’s unbeatable and then he looks like he’s going to miss the cut and then he comes back again.
“One of the things you can always say about Rory is when he has something in his sightline he generally achieves it and generally performs.”
They are certainly intriguing comments from McGinley, particularly so close to McIlroy making another Ryder Cup appearance.
He is undoubtedly the man that Europe will be looking to most to deliver at Bethpage, having really stepped up his game this season.
The Northern Irishman won three times on the PGA Tour in 2025, including a first success at The Masters to complete the career grand slam.
He does, however, remain just behind Scheffler in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), with the American enjoying another stunning season of his own.
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