If the Ryder Cup stars thought they’d be in for an easy ride at Bethpage Black, they’ve been instantly reminded that won’t be the case.

The course in Farmingdale, New York has twice played host to the US Open and the PGA Championship since 2002, but this year marks the first time it has held golf’s marquee team event.

Bethpage Black was first opened in 1936 and has a course record of 63, set by Brooks Koepka in 2019

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Bethpage Black was first opened in 1936 and has a course record of 63, set by Brooks Koepka in 2019Credit: Getty

It is a notoriously difficult course for anyone, even the world’s best professionals, to play on.

So much so that it was ranked as the sixth most challenging set of 18 holes in the United States by Golf Digest last June.

Bethpage Black’s iconic sign on the first tee

If that wasn’t enough to send shivers down the spines of all those who rock up to Bethpage, then an iconic sign fixed on a fence just behind the first tee will leave even the most ardent of players a little hesitant.

The sign, of which the origins remain a mystery as to how, when and why it was erected, simply reads: “WARNING – The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers.”

It’s not exactly a false statement.

At the 2002 US Open, held at Bethpage Black, only one player finished under par – Tiger Woods.

Several players have remarked about the sign over the years, including former Open champion Henrik Stenson.

“I haven’t really played much courses with warning signs,” Stenson said at the 2009 US Open.

“It’s more for the ski slopes, isn’t it?”

Given the sign says the course is only for ‘highly skilled golfers’, that’s exactly the calibre of players who will rock up to Bethpage Black for this year’s Ryder Cup.

It also appears as if Europe’s stars aren’t wasting any time getting acclimated to the tricky dimensions of the course.

The origins of the sign have been greatly debated, with some saying it has existed since the 1960s

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The origins of the sign have been greatly debated, with some saying it has existed since the 1960sCredit: Golf DigestHow McIlroy tackled the first hole at Bethpage Black

A video shared on social media showed Rory McIlroy driving the ball off the first tee, but what was most eye-catching was how aggressive his line was.

Given the first hole begins with an unforgiving dogleg that bends to the right, some may opt to play it safe and hit it straight.

However, McIlroy is not like most.

In the clip, the Grand Slam champion chose to hit the ball over the trees and directly towards the hole.

McIlroy's ball can be seen in one of the trees, showing off the aggressive line he took

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McIlroy’s ball can be seen in one of the trees, showing off the aggressive line he tookCredit: @RyderCupEurope – XThe Northern Irishman goes into the Ryder Cup on the back of a T20 finish at the PGA Championship

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The Northern Irishman goes into the Ryder Cup on the back of a T20 finish at the PGA ChampionshipCredit: Getty

Unfortunately there’s no ball tracking on the video, so the exact destination of where the ball landed remains unknown.

But given the first hole is a 430-yard par four and McIlroy consistently drives the ball over 320 yards, it’s not a stretch to imagine the five-time major winner made it over the trees.

Time will tell whether McIlroy and the rest of his Europe teammates adopt a similar approach when the Ryder Cup tees off on September 26.