Europe aims to win over New York fans at Ryder Cup

FARMINGDALE, New York :U.S. captain Keegan Bradley promised during the Ryder Cup opening ceremony on Wednesday to make Bethpage Black "America's course" while European counterpart Luke Donald said his squad would win over the hearts of the rowdy, partisan New York crowd.

The opening ceremony, which traditionally reveals the pairings for the first session of matches, is usually held on the eve of the three-day match-play competition but was brought forward a day due to the threat of bad weather.

Bradley and Donald will reveal their lineup decisions at 4 p.m. ET (2000 GMT) on Thursday at a separate event.

Europe, looking to retain the Ryder Cup with their fifth overseas victory, were introduced first on the stage next to the first tee and arrived wearing dark double-breasted blazers over white shirts with open collars.

"New York is a place where if you show up with talent and a fighting spirit, the city will get behind you - although maybe not if you're wearing European blue this week ... you the fans here respect effort over ego," said Donald.

"We may not be your team but we will give you something to respect, something to admire and maybe by the end of this week, something to cheer for."

Donald is leading a familiar lineup in New York as he is returning 11 of the 12 players who won the Ryder Cup for the European team in 2023.

A triumph for Europe this week would make Donald the first Ryder Cup captain to win back-to-back editions of the biennial competition since Tony Jacklin in the 1980s.

The U.S. team, which includes world number one Scottie Scheffler, were next on stage and arrived wearing navy blazers with gold buttons and red-striped ties as flag-toting fans chanted "USA! USA!"

"We know the atmosphere this weekend will be