Why Jon Rahm says he relates to 'passionate' New York crowds at 2025 Ryder Cup

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — So far, Jon Rahm says, the New York crowds have been funny.

One of the big storylines coming into the 2025 Ryder Cup – from a European standpoint – has been how hostile the fans at Bethpage Black would be throughout the week. New York fans are known as some of the most boisterous in the sporting world, and that is putting it lightly.

The crowds were so big of a talking point, the European team invested in VR headsets to simulate some things the crowd could say and scenes from around the golf course.

"I don't think that we're creative enough in those VR goggles to what we're going to hear this week, so far what we've heard in practice rounds," Rahm said Thursday. "The good thing about this week is New York fans are so passionate, and luckily for me, that's something I can relate to. In both ways, it's really, really fun. But they have ability to be incredibly creative, which we can all appreciate, right. We have all been in a home game trying to say some things about the away team, right, but some people come up with some things that I would never in a million years come up with, and it's a lot of fun to be a part of.

"They understand sports, and in a weird sense, from what I've experienced in New York, when you're playing good and you're performing well, they also respect that, right."

Rahm and the Europeans have enjoyed their interactions with the fan base in the practice rounds.

"So far, the humor that's been there, it's really funny," Rahm said. "I would imagine tomorrow things might turn a little bit but there's always funny ones, and not only towards me, towards everybody. I'm not going to say what they said, but yesterday on 17, me and Shane Lowry had a good laugh at something someone said in the crowd. Again, people can be really creative nowadays."

As Rahm alluded to, the heat will be full blast Friday morning when those donning blue and yellow come through the tunnel and to the first tee.

But as for the start of Ryder Cup week? The Euros are having plenty of laughs and banter with the New Yorkers.

"It's a joy to play in front of them, and no matter what, I'm looking forward to it," Rahm said. "It's going to be special. You can mentally get ready for it if you've been a part of an away Ryder Cup. If not, you're going to find out on the first tee how you react."

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Why Jon Rahm relates to passionate New York crowds at 2025 Ryder Cup