Ryder Cup 2025: How Jon Rahm will deal with hecklers at Bethpage Black

Jon Rahm says Luke Donald has given his European team 'the tools' to deal with a boisterous crowd at the 2025 Ryder Cup. 

Rahm will make his fourth appearance for the blue and gold later this month at Bethpage Black on the outskirts of New York. 

The 30-year-old is part of an extremely settled and experienced team that will attempt win in hostile territory for the first time since 2012. 

Two-time major champion Rahm had to rely on a captain's pick from Donald this time around. 

Rahm, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg and Matthew Fitzpatrick were unveiled as Donald's wildcards on Monday. 

They join Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Rasmus Hojgaard and Rahm's LIV Golf teammate Tyrrell Hatton. 

Donald and his dozen know they are likely to experience a cauldron of noise and abuse. 

Rahm told reporters, including GolfMagic, how he plans to deal with hecklers. 

"I'm not going to lie and say I've been perfect with handling my emotions in some crowds in the past," Rahm said, referencing his many outbursts of anger. 

"But I think the more I've experienced in not only the Ryder Cup - but in regular events as well -  not the easier it gets, but the better I understand how to handle things."

Rahm pointed to the fact in other team sports athletes go to games knowing the crowd is 'going to be against you'. 

"I know I'm going to hear a lot of things that I don't like," Rahm added. 

"But it's part of the sport, right? I feel like the Ryder Cup, when it comes to certain things, is one of those times where you do feel similar to some world stages."

Rahm said he knows there will be 'a few creative people out there' who will think of some amusing heckles. 

"If you can re-use some of the funny things they say, though they can be hurtful in a good way, you can always use that energy to help you."

Rahm also said he believes the Basque people and New Yorkers are 'fairly similar of character'. 

"It's nearly impossible"

Donald has already attempted to prepare some of his players for a heated atmosphere. 

He did so during the Team Cup in January where competitors were subjected to loud 'U-S-A, U-S-A' chants broadcast over the PA system. 

Additionally, an American comedian was hired to position himself near one hole, taunting players with insults and mimicking their behaviour. 

Said comedian told Tyrrell Hatton he looked like a 'reborn Amish farmer' and made disparaging remarks about players' shots. 

Rahm said that, in all honesty, players cannot truly prepare for what is expected. But Donald has been a big help, offering guidance throughout the year. 

"He has given us the tools we need," Rahm said. "But we're all very different personalities and some people in the world of sports somehow do better when they actually get into it with the crowd and they incite the crowd and they can feed off of that. Other people do not.

"So it's different for each one, right? He's stayed in contact with some of us for quite a while and he's given us a lot of options, a lot of things to read about and and things that we can practise."

Rahm added: "It's nearly impossible in our day-to-day events to get ready for it because you don't ever really feel like you're going to have that many people against you in a single session, in any regular golf event. 

"So the most you can do is mentally try to get ready and prepare. But like I said, since we're all a little different, he's given us different tools to try to understand how we need to react."