President Donald Trump has been cautioned that his presence will not postpone the start of the Ryder Cup’s opening day, following delays at the men’s singles final during the US Open.
Trump intends to attend Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, on Sept. 26 for the Ryder Cup’s opening day, which will operate under heightened security protocols and is expected to burden taxpayers with a substantial financial cost.
Trump has made appearances at multiple sporting events this summer, including the FIFA Club World Cup final and the men’s US Open final.
The high-profile tennis showdown between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner experienced a 48-minute postponement, with numerous spectators missing the match’s commencement due to enhanced security protocols. Nevertheless, while Ryder Cup director Bryan Karns embraces Trump’s participation, competition will proceed as originally planned.
This follows Trump’s special appeal to a golf professional who was present at his recent State Banquet in the UK.
Ryder Cup organizers have been coordinating with the Secret Service ahead of Trump’s visit to guarantee Friday’s proceedings run seamlessly. “There’s been a lot of really good discussions so far,” Karns informed Front Office Sports on Thursday.
Nevertheless, the Ryder Cup is set to commence at 7:10 a. m.
ET on Friday, and will not be postponed for Trump’s arrival. Karns disclosed that Trump’s representatives have been “very mindful of limiting any disruption” and are providing full cooperation.
“We actually won’t be able to delay the tee times because we don’t have the evening,” Karns said. “At Arthur Ashe Stadium, you can flip those lights on, you can go late.
“Whereas we don’t have that luxury of doing that, and you obviously want to make sure, if possible, you’re finishing both sessions on the day we start them so the fans can see it from start to finish.”
Ryder Cup organizers have also examined the US Open as a reference point while planning security protocols.
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“It’s really just a collaboration with the Secret Service to figure out the safest way to get the president on site, and to allow him to be able to participate and enjoy and be a part of what we’re doing, but at the same time, not disrupt the general flow,” Karns said.
“Not have something take place where the hallmark at the Ryder Cup-the first tee or some of these grandstands that we expect and would plan to be full-that we don’t impede that.”
Trump will naturally be backing Team USA at the Ryder Cup, though captain Keegan Bradley chose not to compete despite encouragement from the U.S. President. “Keegan Bradley should DEFINITELY be on the American Ryder Cup Team – As Captain!!! He is an AMAZING guy. It will be a great Ryder Cup,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Bradley weighed up adding himself to the roster, but acknowledged that it might compromise his captaincy duties. “I grew up wanting to play Ryder Cups. I grew up wanting to fight alongside these guys. It broke my heart not to play. It really did,” Bradley said.
“You work forever to make these teams, but ultimately I was chosen to do a job. I was chosen to be the captain of this team. My ultimate goal to start this thing was to be the best captain that I could be. This is how I felt like I could do this.
“If we got to this point and I felt like the team was better with me on it, I was going to do that. I was going to do whatever I thought was best for this team. I know 100% for certain that this is the right choice, and these six guys, again, played so incredibly coming down the stretch here and made my decision a lot easier.”
