NEW YORK - The 45th Ryder Cup starts on Friday, with two intense, emotional duos facing off in a potentially explosive opening match and US President Donald Trump set to attend.
Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas of the United States meet Europe's Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton in the morning foursomes opener at Bethpage Black in the latest instalment of the fiercely contested biennial golf event.
"They are going to be having the crowd excited," US captain Keegan Bradley predicted of DeChambeau and Thomas. "They bring a spark to our team."
The clash will spice what's expected to be an intense atmosphere with Trump among more than 50,000 spectators expected for the opening day's play.
"I hope he will inspire us to victory," DeChambeau said of Trump. "I think he'll be a great force for us to get a lot of people on our side. I think it will be interesting and exciting to see how the crowd and everybody reacts. It's going to be an electric environment."
Friday's first foursomes (alternate shot) match tees off at 7:10am with two-time major winners Thomas and DeChambeau against two-time major winner Rahm of Spain and England's Hatton, who were both unbeaten in Europe's 2023 win at Rome.