When Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas stepped on the Bethpage Black’s course with the American flag on their shoulders, even the least patriotic person felt their blood rushing high. The Ryder Cup had begun, and the USA was going to snatch back the trophy from Europe, a revenge that was long overdue. But unfortunately, that could not happen. And while the Ryder Cup result might not have been what the Americans were expecting, there were still aspects from the events that warmed several people’s hearts, including Michelle Wie West‘s.

Attending the T Mobile Club Magenta at the Ryder Cup last weekend, West recalled the moment DeChambeau and Thomas entered the field. “It definitely gets me emotional. Anytime, you know, anyone’s wearing the American flag, wearing red, white, and blue, it definitely gives me goosebumps,” said the former major winner who has represented the USA in the junior Ryder Cup in 2008.

DeChambeau and Thomas were the first pair to play in the Friday foursomes match on Friday singles. The duo faced Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. Although they lost their round with 4&3, they were the first to be sent out because Keegan Bradley wanted them to “lead” the team.

“They are also both incredible players. They are two of our better players — and they bring the energy. We want that,” Bradley said later. And it will not be wrong to say that what he aimed for was certainly achieved.

The energy at Bethpage Black surely soared high after the start of the tournament. And while most of these could be fans being “passionate” (in Keegan Bradley’s words), the atmosphere at times teetered between support for the home team and bullying the rivals. But none of these could work as Europe streamrolled the USA by 15 -13.

Still, for players like Michelle Wie West, just representing USA was a bigger deal than the overall result. She understands it better than others. And why won’t she, as she herself has been on the Solheim Cup (often called the women’s Ryder Cup) five times! Bragging a record of 8-9-1, she has helped the USA ride on victorious waves in 3 of those editions. In fact, in her debut, she gave a stellar record of 3-0-1 and has even served as the assistant captain in 2021 under Pat Hurst.

So, of course, seeing the red, white, and blue on full display, the patriotism of fellow players fighting to get a win like that, was surely to make her emotional.

And not only West, for players representing the US, the deal was bigger than any win they could get that night in New York.

“The flag on my chest means everything. Wearing these colors, knowing you’re playing for your country—there’s nothing like it. To do it on home soil, in front of the President and passionate fans, is the greatest honor of my career,” is what Scottie Scheffler said.

Even Cameron Young said that the feeling of being on the team was something he had never felt before. “I think it’s really just a testament to how much it means to all of us to be here, and how much we all want to play well for each other.”

At the same time, Michelle Wie West’s admiration went beyond her countrymen. Watching the Ryder Cup, she could not help but admire Tommy Fleetwood‘s presence on the course. Fleetwood, who won his first PGA Tour event this season, 11 years after joining the tour, was a formidable presence on the European team. He ended up being the top points scorer and also the recipient of the Nicklaus-Jacklin award.

“It was really fun to watch Tommy Fleetwood win for the first time this season. I’ve always been a big fan of his swing, with its little sawed-off finish,” she said. At the same time, she also couldn’t help but admire Rory McIlroy‘s form and his “beautiful as always” swing.

West was in the Magenta Club as part of her collaboration with T-Mobile. Being the golf ambassador for the company, she spoke at length about the way the company kept her connected to both golf and the sports-entertainment world. “It’s been fun to be part of the T-Mobile team, and it’s a brand that crosses cultures and has been supportive of women in sports.” She also mentioned how much she enjoyed the company’s “Breakfast at Bethpage” event with Colin Jost, which was also joined by notable guests like Robert Pattinson, Michael Phelps, Niall Horan, and many more.

Since retiring after the 2023 US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach, Wie West has been clear that her focus is on family life. Presently, she is a mom to a five-year-old daughter and a baby son. So even though she has stepped away from golf, she still manages to enjoy the sport’s biggest stage.

But though she enjoyed the Ryder Cup in complete bonhomie, of course, the antics of the crowd did not sit right with her like many others.

Michelle Wie West apologizes for the crowd behaviour in the Ryder Cup

So much happened in the 2025 Ryder Cup that an away team winning sort of got lost in the headlines that surrounded the three days. The crowd behavior in New York set a certain standard of brutality that a home country can bestow upon the rival team. Michelle Wie West, who has been part of tense events like the Ryder Cup, could not help but side with the players who faced the brunt of the boisterous New Yorkers.

“Fans sometimes don’t see us as living, feeling human beings…I just feel like a lot of times they just don’t see us as these people that have feelings, that have families, you know. So I do feel really bad for the European team and how they were treated. I feel like, as an American, I feel like I should apologize,” said West in an interview with Front Office Sports Today.

At the same time, she acknowledged that with the event being held in New York, such behaviors were expected to an extent. “I think the fans at that stage were always going to be a topic of conversation. I think we kind of knew that going in. And, you know, Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, it’s always tense, right, you know, when there’s so much on the line.” West has been part of several tense Solheim Cups, where the USA has made a comeback to win the trophy. The 2015 edition is an example, where the USA trailed Europe 10-6, only to make the largest comeback in the event’s history at that point. They defeated Europe by 14.5 to 13.5.

But also, she is right in noting that the fans in New York surely blurred the lines between personal and professional. Her empathy also comes from her personal experience with heckling and problematic comments hurled at her. A notable incident that occurred was when a radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, made an extremely sexist remark about West’s putting several years back.

The severity of the comment, dropped in the disguise of a ‘joke’, made West address the same. “What this person should have remembered from that day was the fact that I shot 64 and beat every male golfer in the field, leading our team to victory. I shudder thinking he was smiling to my face and complimenting my game while objectifying me and referencing my ‘panties’ behind my back all day,” she wrote on X (then Twitter).

Players who are representing their countries, no matter at what stage and venue, should be entitled to a certain level of respect. Many things can be learn from this Ryder Cup, including this.