US President, Donald Trump, is set to attend the opening day of the 2025 Ryder Cup, bringing with him a raft of enhanced security measures, including a list of prohibited items.
The iconic three-day contest between the 12 best American golfers and their European counterparts begins on Friday at Bethpage Black in New York, and last month, Trump used his social media platform ‘Truth Social’ to endorse US captain Keegan Bradley and confirm his intention to attend the event.
The POTUS, who is expected to avoid arriving for the first tee time, will be protected by undercover agents and police officers throughout the Black course, with fans having been warned of a major security operation on opening day.
The visit comes just two weeks after the assassination of conservative activist and Trump ally Charlie Kirk, and just over a year since Trump himself survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, Ryan Routh was found guilty of attempting to assassinate the President on a golf course in Florida in September last year.
With security therefore high on the agenda, Ryder Cup organisers announced a series of restrictions and security measures, such as TSA airport-style checks and a list of prohibited items.
Among the banned items are golf ball range finders, commonly used by golfers to work out the distance between their ball and the hole. The gunman responsible for the Pennsylvania assassination attempt in July 2024 had reportedly been spotted using a range finder and was flagged to the US Secret Service 20 minutes before Trump was shot.
Ryder Cup Statement on Security Measures
A Ryder Cup statement said: “Those attending the Ryder Cup on Friday, September 26, should expect enhanced security measures and additional restrictions in place at Bethpage Black.
“Ticketed attendees are strongly urged to arrive as early as possible and should budget extra time as they plan their day. In addition to security screening at the entrance, spectators will be subjected to TSA-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 5 a.m. Guests should make every effort to restrict personal items to a minimum.”
Other prohibited items include portable folding chairs, large vapes, metal/hard plastic insulated beverage containers, and even laptops and tablets.
Donald Trump’s Presence Caused Havoc at US Open
The Ryder Cup is the latest in a long line of sporting events to be attended by the President in recent times. Just last month, similar security measures caused uproar at the US Open men’s final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Increased security at the Arthur Ashe Stadium left thousands of fans queuing to enter, and the match had to be delayed by 37 minutes. When Trump appeared on the big screen inside the 24,000-seat stadium, he was met with only pockets of cheering, as most of the crowd booed the 45th and 47th US President.
The president is also a big UFC fan, having just given the green light to chief executive Dana White’s plans to host a 5,000-person event on the White House lawn.
The proposed event is due to take place in July 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
