The upcoming Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black has all the makings of an absolute classic.
In fact, many people are suggesting that 2025 could be the most exciting edition of the Ryder Cup yet, Billy Horschel included.
The top half of the U.S. Ryder Cup team is expected to be extremely strong, whilst the Europeans might just have greater strength in depth throughout their team of 12.
There are some great storylines developing ahead of the showdown at Bethpage Black, none more so than the prospect of Keegan Bradley becoming the first American playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
Numerous high profile American golfers including Bryson DeChambeau and Kevin Kisner are urging Bradley to play at the Ryder Cup, in conjunction with captaining the U.S. team.
Bradley has been in sensational form this season, and he recently won The Travelers Championship – a Signature Event on the PGA Tour.
Back in September, Horschel stated that the Ryder Cup at Bethpage will be ‘insane’, with the atmosphere and noise set to reach fever pitch.
However, there is always the danger that some fans might just take things too far.
Billy Horschel shares concern about American Ryder Cup fans
With the Ryder Cup fast approaching, the Europeans will be fully aware that a red-hot atmosphere awaits them at Bethpage.
New York sports fans are notorious for the vociferous support they offer their teams.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
And Team Europe will undoubtedly be in for a really difficult three days in Farmingdale, New York.
Horschel has admitted that his only concern is that some fans may take their partisanship too far by resorting to personal jibes, when speaking on The Thing About Golf Podcast.
He said: “I think the New Yorker and North East fans are some of the most passionate fans in the world. They can rival some other country’s fans, very much so.
“It’s going to be a very electric atmosphere. It’s going to be very energised and it will be fun for everyone. I would like our fans to be as respectful as possible. I know there is going to be a portion that it could get out of hand a little bit.
“Having a little jeer and a stab and a niggle here and there, that’s okay. But when it gets a little more to the personal side I think that’s when it gets out of hand.
“Hopefully it does not go that way. Hopefully our fans can be similar to the Europeans, when someone hits a bad shot they cheer it was a bad shot. No different to how it is in Europe. But hopefully it’s not in the personal aspect. Because I think this has the ability to be the best and greatest Ryder Cup ever because of the location and how competitive the two teams are and the way the results have been over the last decade, I think it has the ability to be the best Ryder Cup in the history of Ryder Cups so far.
“I am excited to watch it and see how it plays out. I am just hopeful on both sides. Because if we play bad as Americans we will get made fun of and get it too from our own fans. So hopefully when all is said and done we can say it’s one of the greatest Ryder Cups ever and they can enjoy the experience.“
Why some golf fans think Keegan Bradley just dropped big Ryder Cup hint
Some interesting news came to light earlier this week regarding the upcoming Ryder Cup.
Gary Woodland was named as Bradley’s fifth vice-captain for the showpiece event at Bethpage Black.
And numerous golf fans believe that was a clear hint that Bradley plans to play as part of the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Appointing yet another vice-captain certainly makes sense, if the 39-year-old does decide to play.
He will need more eyes and ears sprinkled around the golf course to keep track of what is going on.
With every week that passes, it’s looking more and more likely that Bradley will be part of the Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black as a player.
And let’s be honest, if he’s not on the team it will feel like the Americans have really missed a trick.