In Donald Trump ‘watching’ Ryder Cup, a new normal for increasingly politicised international sports

Trump’s role in Ryder Cup churlishness

The 2025 edition of the Ryder Cup was won impressively by the away team, as the Europeans defended their title despite the tribalism and home-field advantage that are essential tenets of the event.

But it was collectively acknowledged that lines were crossed over the weekend in Long Island, with abuse hurled at players (especially Europe’s star, Rory McIlroy, whose wife was even hit with a beer can). Spectators went so overboard with their behaviour that state police and guard dogs had to be brought in to the normally serene fairways at Bethpage.

How much of the churlishness and abuse from the fans was a consequence of Trump’s involvement in the event, if at all, may be up for debate. That the European team’s video did not address an opposition player or captain, but the American president, may well be instructive.

What is not in doubt is how Trump’s presence was marked at the Ryder Cup event. He and his fans arrived at the event with full pomp and show. There was an expectant air around the course with Trump’s scheduled visit last Friday, making him the first sitting American president to arrive at the Ryder Cup. US golfer Bryson DeChambeau said he hoped his presence would inspire the players. His arrival marked the rowdiest day, also with his huge security deployment keeping a lot of paying fans out of the course for large parts of the day.

But unlike the US Open tennis tournament last month, where Trump also came to watch the men’s final in New York, he was given a rousing reception this time. Commentators across the world voiced their belief that this was a political move to further his agenda using sport; the polarised fan support became a consequence of that.

Trump’s history with golf

Trump has been an avid golf fan for years and is something of a motivated amateur player.

Professional tournaments are often held at the numerous golf courses he owns. He gets in touch with the top names every time they win the big events (Europe recorded the video as an opportunity for a bit of banter after Trump sent a personal text message to McIlroy).

He claims his handicap is as low as 2.8 and that he has won multiple club championships. In his 2019 book, ‘Commander in Cheat,’ journalist Rick Reilly went about trying to explain his politics with his attitude on the golf course, and the amount he supposedly cheats on it.

That explains his keenness to be present for the event, alongside his proximity to some of the biggest golfers in the world, but that’s not all. As the American president looked on from his bulletproof enclosure before the first tee – which he only left to interact with DeChambeau to a wild crowd reception – the message wasn’t merely that of a golf fan coming to appreciate the sport. It was political, too.

Setting new precedents

In Dubai, during the men’s Asia Cup cricket tournament last month, and once again on Sunday (October 5) in Colombo during the Women’s World Cup, the India and Pakistan cricket teams have set new terms of (non) engagement. They have elevated an already fiery rivalry to a point of heightened animosity due to the decisions of their political establishments, which had largely been avoided between the cricket teams despite their political history.

In global football, there was growing noise for FIFA and UEFA to take a stand and ban Israel from competing. While some believe that it is time for the governing bodies to make a statement and act against the nation due to the continued atrocities in Gaza, FIFA decided to refrain from doing so.

Simultaneously, Iranian athletes set to travel to the United States for international competitions, like next year’s FIFA World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympics, face uncertainty after citizens of the country have been prevented from travelling there due to a recent ban.

The Ryder Cup was just another event that showed how globally, political establishments are attempting to latch onto sport for a range of goals – if not as a rallying cry against a warring nation, then just to further the cult of personality of a leader. Its effects were there to see.