The Coliseum of Pressure: Bethpage’s Opening Act

Bethpage Black’s first tee – a 5,000-seat amphitheater carved into Long Island’s rugged terrain – stands ready to test golf’s greatest warriors. While smaller than Paris’ 2018 colossus, this serpentine grandstand wraps around the tee box and 18th green like a dragon guarding its treasure, creating what Tommy Fleetwood calls “a cool scene you’ve got to embrace.”

The first tee’s sweeping design at Bethpage Black (Image: BBC Sport)

Anatomy of Intimidation

• Capacity: 5,000 fans (vs. 6,500 in Paris 2018)
• Design: Curved grandstand resembling London Stadium
• Acoustics: Open-ended structure diffuses sound differently than Rome’s 2023 cauldron

European rookie Rasmus Hojgaard admits this will be his “most nervous moment” in professional golf. The memory of 2023’s claustrophobic start still lingers, when Team USA failed to win the first hole in 12 consecutive matches.

Phoney War Turns Real

During practice rounds, fans engaged in playful psychological warfare:

• Rory McIlroy greeted with pantomime boos from quarter-filled stands
• Bryson DeChambeau showboated 397-yard drives to chants of “Rory can’t do that!”
• Collin Morikawa demanded “absolute chaos” from Friday crowds

Europe’s Charm Offensive

Team Europe’s strategy includes:

1. Marathon autograph sessions with New Yorkers
2. Blue Sharpie diplomacy during practice rounds
3. Donald’s emphasis on “respectful entertainment”

“We’re the visitors,” Captain Luke Donald noted. “We understand how important the fans are.”

The Tinderbox Factor

Key variables could ignite tensions:

• Donald Trump’s expected Friday appearance
• $255 daily tickets attracting passionate locals
• New York’s reputation for “firm but fair” heckling

As Long Island father Sean Mateiko warned: “Come Friday, Rory’s the enemy.” With both teams embracing the theater, Bethpage’s first tee promises golf’s most electrifying opening act since the 1999 “Battle of Brookline.”