JuicyTalk
Ryder Cup championship director Bryan Karns has dismissed concerns from Rory McIlroy that there will be disorder from United States supporters this weekend and says the Northern Irishman “doesn’t appreciate these fans for who they are”.
Team USA will be backed by a boisterous crowd in New York as Keegan Bradley and his players attempt to wrestle back the trophy they lost in Rome two years ago, and many on the European side have expressed worry that the partisanship may overstep the mark.
Speaking in the Guardian over the weekend, McIlroy said: “I think it’s inevitable something is going to happen in New York.
“It might not involve me, but it is inevitable that something will happen, whether like in Rome last time or something else.
“I just think when you go into that environment and you are there for five or six days and the crowd are on you for eight hours, so many days in a row … it is inevitable it will get to someone or get to us as a group at some point.
“We are just going to have to do a really good job of managing that, having each other’s backs and protecting each other.”
It will be the opposite to McIlroy’s prediction – Karns
McIlroy has spent the bulk of his career playing week in, week out on the PGA Tour and is well accustomed to crowds in the US but Karns still believes he has much to learn.
He told the New York Post: “I sort of welcome the opportunity to hear some of that chatter, knowing that what they’re going to see is going to be quite the opposite.
“The best thing we can do is go out and just break that narrative. When I hear that [there will be bad behavior], it’s coming from someone that doesn’t understand this market, someone maybe doesn’t appreciate these fans for who they are.
“There’s yahoos at every Ryder Cup, and the fact is we’ll deal with them very quickly – there’s really zero tolerance. I think sports fans in New York self-police very well. It’s maybe the most underrated part about this city in my opinion.
“I think New York sports fans are incredibly smart. I think what’s going to shock people is that it’s going to be less about anything directed at the other team and more about cheering on their own team.’’
Trump expected to attend Ryder Cup
It is expected Donald Trump, himself a keen golfer, will be in attendance at Bethpage Black on Friday.
“We’re still finalizing all that,” Karns said. “I think [Trump] more than anything wants to ensure that the disruption is minimal and that he doesn’t do anything to detract from the event.’’
World number one Scottie Scheffler would relish an appearance from Trump and says they are in semi-regular contact.
“I get a call or text from him sometimes after wins,’’ Scheffler said Tuesday. “The president is kind of funny. He loves the game of golf. He’s one of those guys when you’re around him he does such a good job of feeding confidence into everybody around him. I don’t think he has any plans to address us as a team, but I’m sure if things go well [for the U.S. team], we’ll hear from him this week.’’
