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Justin Rose has vowed Europe’s Ryder Cup stars will not be distracted by the melee around Donald Trump’s visit to Bethpage on Friday, while spectators have been warned to brace themselves for security chaos as a result of the US president’s presence.
Trump’s arrival on the first day of the 45th Ryder Cup will trigger airport-style checks for fans and a ban on several items including folding chairs, umbrellas and vapes. The Bethpage gates will open at the unprecedented time of 5am, more than two hours before play gets under way, in an attempt to alleviate an inevitably tricky situation. Security bubbles and additional screening will be in place around certain areas where Trump could be present.
The focus of Rose and his European teammates is on retaining the trophy won in Rome two years ago. The Englishman, who is taking part in his seventh Ryder Cup, revealed he does not expect the US president to appear on the 1st tee and promised Europe will not lose their focus from the task in hand.
“Obviously he is going to bring certainly a lot of attention and patriotism to the event,” said Rose of Trump. “I don’t think he’s going to necessarily be on the tee box with us or roaming the course. So from that point of view, I think there will just be a lot of noise around it but I’m not sure there will be the continued distraction of it. I could be wrong, just based upon what I’ve heard, how they’re going to handle his movements around the property.
“Listen, it’s great for golf that he’s engaged in the game and obviously he brings a lot of eyeballs with him. Fan-wise, I’m sure Friday afternoon will be certainly very intense and entertaining.”
Rose’s comments suggest Trump will take the advice of the PGA of America and appear for the second rather than opening session on Friday. The Ryder Cup organisers had asked the White House to ensure the president did not come in the morning, in an attempt to alleviate security pressures at this 1400-acre site. About 50,000 spectators are expected at Bethpage on each tournament day.
Security around Trump has been intensified by the recent killing of Charlie Kirk. On Wednesday morning, Ryder Cup organisers announced a string of measures never previously encountered at the biennial event. “Ticketed attendees are strongly urged to arrive as early as possible and should budget extra time as they plan their day,” said a PGA of America statement.
“In addition to security screening at the entrance, spectators will be subjected to TSA [Transportation Security Administration]-style screening points around the clubhouse, adjacent grandstand and surrounding areas. If spectators leave these secure areas, they will need to be screened again prior to reentering that area.
“Gates will open for ticket holders at 5am. Guests should make every effort to restrict personal items to a minimum.
“Guests should expect temporary delays moving around publicly accessible areas inside and outside of the Bethpage Black golf course. These areas may briefly become restricted or frozen spaces before, during or after the event.”
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Members of the public are prohibited from bringing laptops, tablets or range finders into Bethpage on Friday. Items banned in the vicinity of the 1st hole are portable folding chairs, large vapes, torch-style lighters, metal or hard plastic beverage containers and large umbrellas. The ban also relates to anything that has been bought at Ryder Cup merchandising.
A further layer of Ryder Cup complication has been added by a forecast of thunder storms in this part of Long Island. It is possible neither the USA nor European teams will be able to play practice holes on the eve of competition. The final day of the Junior Ryder Cup, scheduled for Thursday, has been moved to Nassau Country Club.
The Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola, meanwhile, has been revealed as a surprise addition to the European backroom team. Zola is in New York as the designated buggy driver for his fellow Italian Francesco Molinari, who is a vice-captain. “We are good friends,” said Zola. “I enthusiastically cancelled everything I was due to do when Francesco asked me and I am here trying to help him. I am a golf lover. More than that, I am addicted to it.”
