My First Ryder Cup Opening Tee Shot Was…Disappointing?

Being in the stands for the opening tee shots of a Ryder Cup is a bucket list item for every golf sicko, so you could say I was pretty excited when that 4:30 a.m. alarm went off Friday morning. I had a skip in my step jumping out of bed on my way to the shower.

After a long shuttle ride—the area around Bethpage is a zoo this week—I dropped my bag off in the media center, grabbed a cup of coffee, and headed to the opening par-4. Before I even got there, I had to go through a Secret Service checkpoint set up in anticipation of President Donald Trump’s arrival. But before I knew it, I reached the top of the stairs and was fully immersed in the atmosphere.

I’ve had worse views before 7 a.m.

The DJ was playing hits, the crowd was attempting some chants, and the National Anthem broke out at one point. We were vibing.

But then the first pairing arrived. And, yes, there was a big pop for Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau, who draped an American flag on their backs, and boos for Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, but it wasn’t the rowdy crowd I was promised.

Ryder Cup: How to Watch Friday at Bethpage

This is New York! I’ve had to deal with these psychos my whole life as a Boston sports fan, and I won’t go as far as to say they fell flat, but it wasn’t what I pictured in my head the weeks leading up to the Cup.

And with each passing pairing, it got calmer and calmer. It was still an amazing experience, but I was hoping for more juice.

Now, I think there’s a few reasons why this happened.

One, the bars weren’t open yet! Crowds from around the golf course cheered loudly when the registers finally opened at 9 a.m. So, maybe the afternoon will be a little rowdier once the fans have indulged in a few adult beverages.

But two, I think the PGA of America out-priced the every-day golfer. Tickets were unrealistically expensive to get into Bethpage Black. Right now on Seat Geek, Saturday tickets sit at $761. And that’s cheap compared to what they were even a few weeks ago. If the PGA really wanted a hostile environment, they needed to make tickets affordable for the average Joe.

Team USA desperately needs the fans to start having an effect. The Europeans have taken an early lead, and Keegan Bradley’s boys need to make sure they don’t get too far ahead.

So, if you’re heading to Bethpage this weekend, do me a favor and bring the energy.