One by one, fans in the grandstand behind the first tee at Bethpage Black began to avert their gaze. Away from their phone screens and the big screen and towards the sky.
It was 11am and a thunderous noise was rolling down the 18th fairway. The rumble grew louder and soon the cheers grew louder, too, as the blue underbelly of Air Force One came into focus.
The crowd hollered and chanted ‘U-S-A’. They sung ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ and, for a moment, they forgot the carnage that was unfolding below.
Because, by the time President Donald Trump landed in this corner of New York, the first morning of the 45th Ryder Cup was almost done.
There was only one match left out on the course – Europe had already wrapped up the other three. ‘The team is not doing so well… so when I heard that, I said “Let’s go on the plane we have to try and help them,”‘ Trump said.
In the end, he hung around for just 16 drives; one estimate put the cost of his trip at more than $16million. And what return did American taxpayers see on that investment? Nothing, according to the leaderboard. Team USA ended the afternoon fourballs as it started them: three points adrift of Europe.
They cleared the roads for Trump’s motorcade but by midday, when he wandered out of the players’ tunnel to take his seat among the crowd, many had decided that the president ought to be more than a spectator. He should replace one of Keegan Bradley’s struggling team. ‘Donald, where are your sticks?’ someone shouted.
Who knows if the president brought his clubs. But he did arrive at least half-prepared to play.
Earlier on Friday morning, Trump had stepped on to the White House lawns in a dark suit and bright white shoes. Golf shoes. It was quite a look. But then again, the area around the first tee was full of odd images.
Take the panes of thick glass that formed a semicircle around the president, his granddaughter Kai and his entourage.
Or the four snipers – dressed all in black – who were applauded as they climbed to the top of the grandstand before unloading their giant rifles.
Or the sight of Trump leaving his glass cage to wander on to the first tee with Bryson DeChambeau. But perhaps nothing was quite as bonkers as Bradley greeting his commander-in-chief.
Trump took his seat – at the foot of the stand – shortly before the teams emerged for the afternoon session and Bradley was among the first out.
The Team USA captain pointed at Trump and then performed the president’s signature jig. Finally, Bradley feigned to bow down at the feet of Trump.
His players were only slightly more restrained. Rookie JJ Spaun danced in front of the president, too, while Scottie Scheffler gave Trump a passionate fist pump.
Others lined up for a chance to shake his hand including Collin Morikawa. Clearly it didn’t take him or his captain long to get over the massacre of Friday morning.
As for the visitors? Well European captain Luke Donald was cordial enough. Several of his players wandered past without even a glance at Trump but Rory McIlroy did wave. The crowd gave their president a raucous welcome, too.
Never before, in the 98-year history of the Ryder Cup, has a sitting US President been in the stands. But Trump does tend to have more time for sport than convention.
Since returning to the Oval Office in January, Air Force One has been busy ferrying him around the country to some of the biggest events in the calendar: the Super Bowl, UFC fights, the Daytona 500, the college wrestling championships, the Club World Cup final, the US Open men’s singles final. And now the Ryder Cup.
So at least law enforcement are used to preparing for days such as these. But the recent assassination of Trump’s political ally, Charlie Kirk, only heightened fears of more bloodshed.
There was already a vast security operation – including drones and bomb-disposal dogs – but on Friday the Ryder Cup ramped it another few notches.
Some secret service agents surrounded Trump. Others greeted every fan who tried to get near the first tee. There was airport-style security and police dogs patrolling outside the clubhouse.
A number of items were banned including rangefinders. Thomas Matthew Crooks was reportedly seen with the common golf gadget before he shot Trump in Pennsylvania last year.
It wasn’t long ago that Trump was a golfing pariah. Here, though, he has been treated like a deity. DeChambeau said earlier this week that he hoped the president could inspire the United States to victory. Bradley went even further on Friday.
‘We just had the president fly over in Air Force One. I think things are going to turn here,’ he said towards the end of the morning session. Things could hardly have gone much worse. In the end, they stayed the same.
