FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Donald Trump traveled to the Ryder Cup on Friday theoretically in a win-win position. The United States team, following a disastrous morning start, couldn’t possibly play any worse. So the president framed his trip to Bethpage Black as a sort of rescue mission.
Leaving the south lawn of the White House before flying to New York, Trump told reporters he was “going to go for a little while to represent the United States at the Ryder Cup” before fielding some questions about the Middle East crisis and the indictment of James Comey, the former FBI director. Traveling in a dark blue suit, an open collar dress shirt, and white golf shoes, he landed on Long Island a little after 11 a.m. ET and, before heading to the course, told pool reporters he was coming to the Ryder Cup because he heard the team was not doing well and wanted to give a Knute Rockne-style speech to stir them up.
In the end, there was a stir, but little else.
In total, Trump’s appearance at Bethpage Black lasted a little over three hours. He arrived to the sort of red, white and blue vigor of a campaign rally, waved at fans, watched both teams tee off on the Ryder Cup’s famed first tee, then receded to the Bethpage clubhouse for lunch and was back in the air before the four afternoon matches reached the back nine.
He watched the start of the afternoon matches from a box in the first row of a massive grandstand wrapping around Bethpage’s first tee and 18th green. He arrived to cheers and his name being chanted. He waved. He shook hands. Whereas at some of the high profile sporting events the president has attended recently have come with questions surrounding his reception, the setting at Bethpage was unequivocally partisan.
Trump’s seat was encircled by protective glass and surrounded by heavy security. The protective measures were only a few of the significant changes put in place ahead of Trump’s visit. Extra fencing and a heavy Secret Service presence was felt throughout Bethpage Black, one of five courses at Bethpage State Park on Long Island. People entering areas near the clubhouse and first tee on Friday morning did so through TSA-style screening points.
By 12:37 p.m., such measures proved necessary in the face of Trump’s unpredictability. After watching the first match of the afternoon begin from behind the protective glass, Trump wandered out to a tunnel leading the players to the first tee box. There he greeted American star Bryson DeChambeau, a close ally and chair of the president’s council on sports and fitness, before following him and his playing partner Ben Griffin to the tee.
Trump then stood a few feet away as DeChambeau drove over a set of trees to set up an easy chip shot to the first green.
President Trump, left, left his seat to join Bryson DeChambeau, right, near the tee box. (Mandel Ngan / Pool / AFP via Getty Images)
Trump returned to his seat before the introduction of the next match, acknowledging the players as they walked past him. He remained seated clapping for American players, pointing to them when they pointed to him. He flashed a thumbs up as U.S. captain Keegan Bradley came by to offer an imitation of Trump’s herky, hitchy dance.
Trump sat in the box alongside PGA of America president Don Rea, PGA CEO Derek Sprague and Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive who greeted Trump at nearby Republic Airport upon Air Force One’s arrival. On that tarmac before hopping in the motorcade for the course, Trump mused that helping the Americans would be like a visit he paid to the Yankees two weeks ago, which he said helped solidify them for the playoffs.
According to Blakeman, Trump was received at Bethpage by numerous dignitaries and legendary golfers. At one point, nine-time major winner Gary Player was in Trump’s box.
As for Trump’s decision to step out to welcome DeChambeau to the tee, Blakeman told The Athletic the president “insisted” on leaving the box.
“If he feels like doing something, he’s going to do it,” Blakeman said.
DeChambeau birdied that first hole, sending a charge through Bethpage and perhaps some hope to the American side for an afternoon turnaround.
Trump’s idea of a presidential jolt was shared by Bradley, too, the St. John’s alum charged with defending the Americans’ home turf in this Ryder Cup. When his team was trailing late in the morning matches, the U.S. captain pointed up during an interview with Sky Sports, saying, “Well, we just had the president fly over in Air Force One, so I got a feeling things are gonna turn here.”
The sentiment was fleeting. With all four afternoon matches underway, Trump ate lunch with Blakeman and others. While the European team built an afternoon advantage, his motorcade set off to the airport.
By 2:50 p.m., Trump was back aboard Air Force One, 40 minutes earlier than planned, according to a White House schedule sent Friday morning. This time there was no flyover. Just a quiet exit on the way to a 4 o’clock arrival back in Washington D.C.
As for that turnaround. The Americans trailed the Europeans 3-1 when Trump arrived. They ended down a bleak 5½ to 2½. The day was a U.S. loss.
Ian O’Connor contributed reporting.
(Top photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)
