Ryder Cup: Secret Service Key to Smooth Trump Attendance

One week out from the Ryder Cup teeing off at Bethpage Black Golf Course just outside New York City, officials continue to work with the Secret Service to ensure that President Donald Trump’s planned attendance at Friday’s opening round doesn’t prevent any fans on-site from watching the action.

“There’s been a lot of really good discussions so far,” Ryder Cup Director Bryan Karns told Front Office Sports on Thursday. 

After Trump’s attendance at the US Open resulted in the men’s final being delayed by 48 minutes, Karns said he has been encouraged by Trump’s team being “very mindful of limiting any disruption.”

If there is any disruption, though, the Ryder Cup won’t simply push back the start of play (7:10 a.m. ET Friday) like the US Open did. “We actually won’t be able to delay the tee times because we don’t have the evening,” Karns said. “At Arthur Ashe Stadium, you can flip those lights on, you can go late. Whereas we don’t have that luxury of doing that, and you obviously want to make sure, if possible, you’re finishing both sessions on the day we start them so the fans can see it from start to finish.”

Karns said learning from Trump’s US Open visit has been helpful as his team works out the numbers game of how fast security will be able to admit fans with any additional measures in place due to Trump’s presence.

“It’s really just a collaboration with the Secret Service to figure out the safest way to get the president on site, and to allow him to be able to participate and enjoy and be a part of what we’re doing, but at the same time, not disrupt the general flow,” he said. “Not have something take place where the hallmark at the Ryder Cup—the first tee or some of these grandstands that we expect and would plan to be full—that we don’t impede that.”

Trump’s travel schedule for the opening round is still not finalized.