Golf fans are different in 2025.
The first real red flag came at the Ryder Cup, when the New York crowd at Bethpage Black crossed the line with their abusive behavior towards Rory McIlroy and Team Europe. Many hoped this wouldn’t spill over to the PGA Tour because the Ryder Cup is a team event, but it has started to.
When Matt Fitzpatrick won the RBC Heritage in a playoff against Scottie Scheffler, he was playing against the crowd, who were chanting “USA” from the grandstands. Fitzpatrick faced this at The Players too, when he duelled with Cameron Young down the stretch.
And then at the US Open, the crowd actively rooted against American Wyndham Clark as he won his home open in New York.
Keegan Bradley, who experienced the full force of the New York crowd at Bethpage Black last year, gave his honest reaction to how they treated Clark at Shinnecock Hills.
Keegan Bradley’s honest thoughts on the New York crowd at Shinnecock Hills
Bradley defended the New York crowd after the Ryder Cup, and he’s doing it again now. He said that Clark’s treatment at the US Open is just a product of golf’s increasing popularity.
He said, “I think that golf is in the process of turning into — it’s leaving just the golf world, where people are coming to tournaments that are sports fans, and that’s how people in New York cheer on the Knicks or the Giants or whatever.
“And they’re coming to tournaments, and they’re sports fans, and they’re golfers, but I think that we’re entering a time where the game is really growing in popularity. I think people are coming to golf tournaments to have a good time.
“I found it a little surprising, considering Wyndham’s American, and at the U.S. Open, but Scottie Scheffler’s a really popular player going for the Grand Slam.
“Unfortunate, but hey, I mean, Wyndham won, so he handled it really well. I think it’s just, we’re in an interesting time here where golf is really taking off and we’re seeing a different group of people coming to these tournaments”
How Keegan Bradley was treated by the New York crowd at Shinnecock Hills
The New York fans were clearly disappointed in Team USA’s performance at the Ryder Cup, and a large part of that must come back to Bradley. He made some baffling decisions at Bethpage, which may well have cost his country the tournament.
With that in mind, Bradley didn’t know what to expect upon his return to New York for the US Open, but he said the fans were great with him.
Speaking during the US Open, Bradley said, “It was great. I never know what to expect. I would understand if they were upset, but I didn’t get any of that. I haven’t really at all. I’m really thankful for that
“I just love playing here. I love playing Long Island. I love New York. I love their fans. It’s a real treat to be out here.”
At least Bradley got a warm welcome from the fans, even if Clark didn’t!
