US President Donald Trump fist-bumps US golfer Bryson DeChambeau as he attends the 45th Ryder Cup. Photo: AFP
US President Donald Trump attended the Ryder Cup to a chorus of cheers from his supporters at Bethpage Black, as the home team trailled Europe 2-1/2 to 5-1/2 points after the first day of the biennial golf event.
Trump flew over the course on Air Force One, as the US team got off to a poor start against defending champions Team Europe, who raced out to a 3-1 lead in the morning foursomes.
He arrived on the grounds just as the duo of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay beat Europe's Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland 2up to avoid a US shutout in the first session of the day.
"I think we'll be OK," Trump told reporters on the tarmac. "All great golfers."
It was hardly the start the Americans had hoped for, as they look to recapture the trophy on home soil, after losing the 2023 edition.
"We just had the president fly over in his Air Force One, so I have a feeling things are going to turn around here," US team captain Keegan Bradley said.
Donald Trump talks with US team captain pro-golfer Keegan Bradley at the Ryder Cup. Photo: AFP
Heightened security measures and bumper-to-bumper traffic greeted fans, many of whom had shelled out more than US$1000 apiece for tickets and shuffled in long before the sun was up to catch sight of twice Major winner Jon Rahm teeing off for Team Europe.
Unlike the US Open men's tennis final earlier this month in Queens, where Trump's arrival caused security delays for fans, Ryder Cup ticketholders navigated the layers of security with relative ease.
An avid golfer, Trump shook hands and pumped his fist, as he stepped into the stands, while fans chanted "USA! USA! USA!", before the US anthem played, with a military plane flyover.
He was accompanied by teenage granddaughter Kai, who is a recreational golfer.
Wearing white golf shoes, Trump later walked on to the course to give American Bryson DeChambeau a fist bump, as the twice Major winner prepared to begin his fourball match with teammate Ben Griffin.
Trump departed before the quartet of afternoon fourball matches had reached the back nine.
It was a far warmer welcome than Trump received at the Super Bowl and at the US Open, as the US president has repeatedly sought to thrust himself into the spotlight at sporting events during his second term.
Europe spoil US party atmosphere
The party atmosphere that many American fans showed up early for was short-lived, as Europe took the morning foursomes session 3-1, before taking the afternoon fourballs 2-1/2 to 1-1/2 to leave plenty of blue on the Bethpage Black scoreboard.
"We've been looking forward to this day for a long time now, so to have got off to a good start feels great," Englishman Tommy Fleetwood said, after going 2-0 on the first day.
The Europeans, who are seeking their first away win in the biennial event since 2012 and requiring14 total points to retain the trophy, have won each of the last six Ryder Cups in which they led after Day 1, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Even Scottie Scheffler was far from his dominant self, as the American joined Tiger Woods and Ian Woosnam as the only players ranked No.1 in the world to lose twice on the first day of a Ryder Cup, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
The four-time Major winner got off on the wrong foot, as he and rookie Russell Henley lost to Swede Ludvig Aberg and Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick 5&3 in the morning foursomes.
Matt Fitzpatrick and Ludvig Aberg celebrate their Team Europe victory in their foursomes match against Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley. Photo: AFP
Justin Thomas, the heartbeat of the American side, did his part, as he and Ryder Cup rookie Cameron Young - playing in his home state and on a course where he won the New York State Open as an amateur in 2017 - combined for seven birdies in 13 holes in a 6&5 fourballs win over Aberg and Rasmus Hojgaard.
Jon Rahm, who teamed with Tyrell Hatton to beat DeChambeau and Thomas 4&3 in foursomes, led off the fourball matches with Sepp Straka and did most of the heavy lifting in a 3&2 win over Scheffler and Ryder Cup rookie JJ Spaun.
"We can't do this alone, it's a team," Rahm said after going 2-0 on Friday. "I've been really fortunate to have really good teammates."
Fleetwood, who was playing alongside fellow Englishman Justin Rose, birdied the 14th to build a 1up lead and then added another from 18 feet two holes later, en route to a 1up win over DeChambeau and Ben Griffin.
The day's final match, which pitted Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Ireland's Shane Lowry against Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns, came down to the last hole, after the Europeans let a 2up lead slip over a two-hole stretch on the back nine.
McIlroy had an 11-foot putt at the last to secure a full point for Europe, but could not get his putt to drop, and they settled for a tie.
"It's been a great day for Europe," said McIlroy. "We have come out of the gates really strong like we wanted to.
"Yeah, we should be really proud of ourselves."
History is not in the hosts' favour, especially considering that, under the current 28-point format, the only team to overcome a 5-1/2 to 2-1/2 deficit or worse to win a Ryder Cup were the 1999 American squad, captained by Ben Crenshaw.
"We've only played 28 percent of the points," said US captain Keegan Bradley. "This is first quarter - we've still got three quarters to go.
"I've got a lot of faith in my boys."
Sunday's schedule will mirror that of Saturday, before the Ryder Cup concludes with Monday's 12 singles matches.
- Reuters
