The New York crowd is Team USA’s greatest asset at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Bryson DeChambeau expects a “tsunami of noise” from the home fans as the Americans look to take back the Ryder Cup from Europe. That’s something that Luke Donald has spent significant time preparing his team for.
Europe expects to be met by thousands of raucous spectators on the first tee box, emphatically behind their nation. However, Brandel Chamblee believes that the Americans have damaged their standing with their home fans in the lead-up to the competition.
Brandel Chamblee says Team USA have a ‘corrupting element’ for the Ryder Cup
For the first time in the event’s history, Team USA’s players are set to be paid for appearing at the Ryder Cup. It’s believed that each player will receive $400,000 for teeing off at Bethpage Black for Keegan Bradley’s side.
Chamblee thinks that’s a disastrous decision for the Americans’ chances in New York. Speaking on The Favorite Chamblee podcast, he explained: “This underlying element might percolate to some extent, and keep the fans from being as partisan as they otherwise might be.
“Players have played for the honour of playing for their country, and in doing so, carrying the hopes of millions of people, as you embody the value and the spirit of your country on the world stage.
“This year, the U.S. teams have demanded to be paid. Asking to be paid for the privilege of representing your country is just antithetical to the honour of it. It would be like doing a favour for a friend and then afterwards you ask to get paid for it. Tell me that doesn’t dishonour the gesture.
“I think that will prove to be some corrupting element to the U.S. side, and I think it won’t sit particularly well with people who are profoundly patriotic in the New York area. I think that will percolate, and I think it will affect the Ryder Cup.”
Bradley needs to win over the fans during the Ryder Cup, and this could impact his chances of doing so. Now, he walks a tightrope.
Brandel Chamblee explains why Europe is better at the Ryder Cup
Two years ago, a red-hot European team embarrassed the Americans in Rome to snatch back the Ryder Cup. Scottie Scheffler suffered a record-breaking defeat to Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland during a European avalanche.
Europe are determined for a repeat of Rome in New York, and Chamblee believes their passion for the Ryder Cup could be the difference at Bethpage Black.
He said, “When you go through every single aspect of each player and the team as an average, of course, the U.S. side is marginally better. Off the tee, into the green, around the greens and on the greens. When you add it all up, they’re a little bit better.
“But I would say that Europe is a little bit better at the Ryder Cup. When you put it all together, and you look at the talent versus the passion that the Europeans have for the Ryder Cup team, heart beats almost talent every time.”
After admitting that Team USA have done work to build camaraderie in the team since 2023, Justin Rose said that Europe are a natural team. Donald selected 11 of the 12 players who won in Rome for that very reason.
Rory McIlroy threw down the gauntlet in 2023. He wants to win on American soil. It’s one of the most challenging achievements in any sport, but McIlroy has been focused on the Ryder Cup for months now.
They are one unit, working closely to achieve one goal. It will be a mammoth task to win at Bethpage, but Europe has won in New York before in 1993. If Chamblee is right, and a fracture is growing between the Americans and their fans, then Europe’s togetherness could be the difference.