Ryder Cup: President Donald Trump expected to arrive at Bethpage Black later on Friday for opening matches

President Donald Trump is expected to attend the Ryder Cup on Friday afternoon, organizers told ESPN’s Mark Schlabach on Tuesday.

While Trump’s presence at Bethpage Black this fall has long been expected — the PGA of America said they officially invited him to attend “a number of weeks ago,” and the White House confirmed the trip on Monday — specifics of his travel plans have not been clear. But with Trump now expected to arrive later on Friday, organizers are hopeful that there won’t be any long security delays that are often seen at large sporting events that he attends.

Advertisement

Trump attended the US Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at Arthur Ashe Stadium earlier this month, for example. That led to extra security and long delays for fans, and the match itself was delayed by more than a half hour. There were several thousand empty seats by the time the match started, as fans were still trying to get into the stadium, and Trump was booed loudly when he was shown on the screen.

It’s not yet known where Trump will actually watch the Ryder Cup matches from, or how long he will stay at the Long Island course. Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler said he didn't think there was any plan for Trump to actually address the U.S. team ahead of time. The PGA of America hopes to have clearer plans within the next 24 hours.

“I'm deeply honored that the President of the United States is going to come support our team at the Ryder Cup,” U.S. captain Keegan Bradley said on Tuesday. “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.”

European captain Luke Donald was asked about Trump’s planned trip, too.

“I think anytime a sitting president wants to come to an event, it just shows how big the Ryder Cup is,” Donald said. “You've got to see that as a mark of respect. President Trump is obviously a big supporter of golf and he knows a lot of the players this week and has met them before. I think you see it as that, as a mark of respect, that a sitting President wants to support an event when he has a very busy schedule. To find time for that shows something.”

The Ryder Cup will kick off on Friday morning with a series of four foursomes, or alternate shot, matches starting at 7:10 a.m. ET. The afternoon session will then include four fourball, or best ball, matches starting at 12:25 p.m. ET.