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If Rory McIlroy and his team-mates were pinning hopes on friendly faces in the crowd this week, then reassurance will not be forthcoming from new data around ticket sales.
Figures from viagogo show that almost every Ryder Cup ticket sold in their resale market has been purchased by fans of Team USA – 96 per cent to be precise.
It will add to the sense that Luke Donald’s Europeans will be entering a bearpit when the competition commences at Bethpage Black on Friday.
It is not yet clear what percentage of the overall galleries will be comprised of fans from the US, with around 50,000 due here on each of the three competition days.
Julian Dwenger, viagogo’s international development lead, said: ‘The atmosphere in New York has been a topic of huge debate and our figures show just what Team Europe can expect.
'We’ve already seen a fiery opening ceremony, with European Captain, Luke Donald, taking aim at Team USA.
There will be a hostile atmosphere for Europe at the Ryder Cup, with ticket data revealing just how large a percentage of attendees will be supporting the USA
There will be around 50,000 spectators per day descending on the course
‘What sort of reaction will that spark from the players and crowd come the opening round?
'The galleries will be dominated by US supporters and Team Europe has it all to do to drown out the noise and win for only the fifth time in 29 attempts on American soil.’
Despite the warnings about rowdy New York crowds, there has been little evidence of hostility beyond pantomime booing on the Tuesday and Wednesday practice sessions, which were opened to ticket holders.
Team USA’s Collin Morikawa sought to change that dynamic with a call for ‘absolute chaos’ on Wednesday.
He said: ‘At Whistling Straits (in 2021) there was still a little bit of COVID so we had a crowd but it wasn't as big as what they say it's going to be here.
‘I'll be honest, I think it's kind of tame so far, Tuesday and Wednesday. I hope Friday is just absolute chaos. I'm all for it.
'I think it feeds into who we are and the American players and the American Team. We want it. Like we want to use that to our advantage.
Luke Donald will be under no illusion over how tough a task it will be for Europe
‘I think every sport uses their home crowd to their advantage, and just because we don't play in a setting like this doesn't mean the craziness of New York and the rest of the country that people are traveling in from, it doesn't mean that we can't use that to our advantage.’
Citing the hearts-and-minds mission of Luke Donald’s team, who have been signing autographs in a deliberate effort to soften local feelings, Morikawa added: ‘I think we really have to tap into that.
'I hope they come strong. Watching all these kids, I know they want autographs, but come Friday, I hope they go crazy.’
