The Guardians of the Ryder Cup were responsible for some of the worst Ryder Cup chants.
Bethpage was billed as bedlam, but the chants swung from inspired terrace gold to full-body cringe. Here are the best (and very worst) efforts from the 2025 Ryder Cup.
The Ryder Cup always has an atmosphere unlike any other golf event, but 2025 at Bethpage Black was meant to take things to the next level. The rowdy New York crowd was predicted to be “absolute chaos”, pumped up by the occasion and the appearance of their president, Donald Trump. “A tsunami of noise,” predicted Bryson DeChambeau.
On day one, it was a little underwhelming.
The fact a small gathering of Europeans could clearly be heard chanting “Is this a library?” said it all, much to Shane Lowry’s amusement.
In fairness to the home fans, it’s hard to make a lot of noise when your boys are giving you little to cheer about. Forget tsunami of noise, the morning session was a tidal wave of blue as Europe swept to a 3-1 lead that made ominous reading for Keegan Bradley’s side.
In the afternoon, with the bars well and truly open and the President greeting players on the 1st tee, the atmosphere did pick up a bit.
And by Saturday afternoon, the fans were in full voice. Some of them a bit too full, perhaps – given the abuse hurled at Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, including while they attempted to play shots.
Here’s a rundown of the best and worst chants heard at Bethpage Black during the Ryder Cup…
The best Ryder Cup chants at Bethpage
Cantlay’s hat trick
Patrick Cantlay was at the center of the ‘hat-gate’ controversy at the 2023 Ryder Cup. He was a leading voice insisting players should be paid to play in the Ryder Cup, and didn’t wear the team cap all week. He insisted that was because it didn’t fit, but most fans believed it was in protest at the lack of payment.
It’s all been sorted now, with Team USA players receiving $500,000 to play, and – totally coincidentally – Cantlay finding a cap that fits.
It all led to this lovely little chant:
“Cantlay’s got his hat on hip hip hip hooray, Cantlay’s got his hat on so he must be getting paid.”
Ain’t no sunshine for captain Keegs
Keegan Bradley faced the difficult decision of whether he should pick himself as the first playing captain since 1963. He opted not to, but may have regretted it as he watched the players he’d picked ahead of him struggle so badly.
The European fans were predictably sympathetic:
“Shoulda picked yourself, picked yourself, shoulda picked yourself,” they sang, to the tune of Give It Up by KC and The Sunshine Band.
He also got a number of renditions of “You’re getting sacked in the morning!” for good measure.
Ode to Bob
It wouldn’t be a sports event without a bit of Gala ‘Freed from Desire’ now, would it?
“Bobby’s on fire! USA is terrified! Bobby’s on fire! Na na na na na na!” and so on.
On the clock
Slow play is one of golf’s biggest scurges, so I’m all for fans loudly counting how long it takes players to hit a shot, as the Americans fans did to Viktor Hovland and Bob MacIntyre. Can we introduce this at every tour event?
The Scotsman was less appreciative – “I’m surprised they can count,” he quipped.
American crowd at 17 shouting out the seconds it takes Viktor Hovland and Bobby Mac to putt.
“I’m surprised they can count,” MacIntyre quipped pic.twitter.com/GsZV7AH3wu
— Paul Hodowanic (@PaulHodowanic) September 27, 2025
Battered Scottie
It’s always good when some of the better soccer songs make it to golf, and that was the case at Bethpage.
“Scottie gets battered everywhere he goes!”
You know the rest…
European fans were chanting “Scottie gets battered, everywhere he goes” at Scottie Scheffler on the range last night, reminding him of his 0-4 record this week.
Will he finally get a point today or will Rory beat him again and complete an incredible week for Team Europe? pic.twitter.com/YiwrtImwiQ
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) September 28, 2025
Changing teams
Seems like some of the European fans would quite like Bryson DeChambeau to pull on the blue and gold.
“You’re French and you know you are!” they sang at the Texan, because ‘DeChambeau’ is a French name, you see?
The worst Ryder Cup chants at Bethpage
The Guardians of the Ryder Cup
The self-appointed ‘Guardians of the Ryder Cup’ have long been an embarrassment to normal European fans – a troupe of guffawing try-hards who decided this competition would be nothing without their painfully middle-class “top banter”.
They churn out pre-planned songs with the enthusiasm of that guy on a stag do who’s only allowed out once every two years, convinced the whole crowd will join in… only to discover no one else is remotely interested.
“If you’re Hatton and you know it, clap your hands” might be their best effort this time, which says it all really.
But, amazingly, the Guardians aren’t the worst bunch of cheesy cheerleaders at the Ryder Cup. That honor goes to the American Marshals, a gang of 13 Americans who, at their ninth Ryder Cup, have honed their songwriting to come up with gems like this:
“U.. S… no, sorry, I’ve forgotten it again”
If there’s one chant all Americans can handle, no matter how many $15 beers they’ve put away, it’s the one that goes “USA! USA! USA!” over and over and over again.
And yet, for some unknown reason, the organizers felt they might need help with it on Saturday morning, and the result was embarrassingly flat:
Thought that was bad? Then you ain’t seen nothing yet.
We Will Scott You
Here’s what happened when two people with a loudspeaker tried to get the crowd to sing “Scottie Scheffler” to the tune of We Will Rock You. No, me neither.
Tyrrell Hat on
If you’re the kind of person who wants to make a personal dig at someone based on their lack of height and hair, you really shouldn’t make it seem this difficult to get it right:
About the author
Contributing Editor (mainly contributing unwanted sarcasm and iffy golf takes, to be honest)
He’s played golf with tour pros and celebrities including Greg Norman, Charley Hull, Matt Wallace, Long Driver World Champion Joe Miller, and Rob Brydon, watched The Open with Gary Player, and had a pull-up contest with Rory McIlroy. He’s interviewed countless tour pros and will always have a soft spot for Tommy Fleetwood.