The Ryder Cup is coming to Bethpage Black, and the atmosphere will be unforgiving. Thousands of American fans are set to pack the stands. European players are aware that the noise will be constant and the pressure will be unrelenting. Every shot in New York could be met with cheers or heckles, turning golf’s most intense team event into a mental battle as much as a physical one.

The stakes are already enormous. Europe has dominated recent Ryder Cups, but the record on U.S. soil tells another story. They have not lifted the trophy in America since 2012. Players are preparing for a clash where skill meets psychology, and where handling the crowd may matter as much as hitting fairways. With Bethpage’s reputation for rowdy fans, the European team is leaving nothing to chance.

However, Luke Donald has his own plan to manage the New York pressure. Donald explains his approach in a YouTube video uploaded by Titleist. “I love competing. I still do it. That’s why I’m here. But I’m 47 and it’s hard to compete against these guys. So, the main focus of why I’m playing competitively is just to aid in my captaincy more than anything,” The former world No. 1, who spent 56 weeks at the top and owns five PGA Tour titles, has built a career on precision and patience. His calm, process-driven style now mirrors the team’s latest move—using virtual reality training to simulate the roaring Bethpage crowd. For Donald, staying composed and listening rather than reacting is as important as any swing on the course.

Through the use of VR, Donald echoed the same theme of process over panic. “Process is one of the most key things as an athlete. Being in the moment, having this moment right now, that’s all you have. So, how do you make this moment count? You do something that makes you a little bit better for the next day. I tend to get so stiff and tight. A lot of braking involved in golf. Accelerate, decelerating. So, it’s small incremental improvements. Doing the little things that stacked over time lead to something great.”Luke Donald has long battled lower back pain, especially herniated L4-L5 discs that sidelined him in 2018.  He never opted for surgery, instead using stem-cell therapy, rehab, posture tweaks and swing adjustments to reduce stress on his lower spine

European golfers are using the VR headsets to prepare themselves to face that pressure. The program does not fix swings but simulates the chaos of New York crowds. The aim is to block out jeers, chants, and constant noise before stepping onto the first tee. Europe has failed to win in America since 2012, so every detail matters. Donald’s focus on small, steady improvements fits that strategy. Like his methodical back exercises, the VR sessions train the mind to stay calm under fire.

Donald values calm preparation over chaos. “You know, I’m an introvert by nature. So I sit and listen a lot. But I think that’s kind of a benefit sometimes when it comes to being a captain. I’m not a rash person. I don’t make rash decisions. That’s why leading up to New York, preparation is really important. I have to kind of get all my eggs in a basket and that’s really important for me in terms of not having too much anxiety underneath it all.” Donald’s thoughtful approach reflects the same qualities that made him a reliable Ryder Cup player, where he earned 10½ points across four appearances without ever losing a singles match.

His steady approach ties in with Rory McIlroy’s perspective on VR training. A crucial alignment since Rory McIlroy will anchor Europe’s hopes. Rory McIlroy pushed for realism in the simulations. “Go as far as you want. It is just to simulate the sights and sounds and noise. That’s the stuff that we are going to have to deal with.” He later admitted the programmed heckles were intense. “You don’t want to know. Not for publication.”

Rory McIlroy warned that simulations only go so far. “But nothing can really prepare you until you’re actually in that. You can wear all the VR headsets you want and do all the different things we’ve been trying to do to get ourselves ready but once the first tee comes on Friday it’s real and we just have to deal with whatever’s given.” That reality makes Donald’s measured outlook even more vital. Historically, European players have often appeared nervous when facing New York crowds—intense heckling and high expectations have unsettled even top stars in past Ryder Cups, such as at Bethpage in 2009 and 2012.

Besides, Rory has a fair point. And heckling has even gone to the point that at the 1999 Ryder Cup, the then European team’s Captain, Mark James’s wife, was reportedly spat on by US spectators. It was one of the most infamous ryder cups not because of the play and the iwn but because of the hooliganism from the crowd. There was also an instance of fans invading the 17th green after Justin Leonard’s putt, but before José Maria Olazábal could make his putt.

This gives players like Rory McIlroy, who have previous experience with hostile U.S. crowds, a subtle advantage, while Donald’s methodical leadership helps the team manage the pressure collectively. However, echoing McIlroy’s take that it still cannto preapre for the real thing, Spanish golfer Jon Rahm echoes it further.

Rory McIlroy’s experience in hostile U.S. crowds: A key asset at Bethpage Black

Jon Rahm was a bit skeptical of the unique strategy implemented by the Team Europe captain. He stated, “VR is never anywhere close to real life. You get an idea of what it’s going to look like, right, I think ahead of time.” Being a gamer, the Spaniard would know well how realistic VR headsets can be. He may have had his own share of experience playing Call of Duty VR at some point.

The US crowd has ahad a history when it comes to breaking the nerves of European players. So in that context, Jon Rahm might be right. Take for instance the 1999 Ryder Cup, where the wife of then European team captain, Mark James, was reportedly spat on by US spectators. It went down as one of the most infamous Ryder Cups, in the history of the sport, not because of the play and the win but because of the hooliganism from the crowd. There was also an instance of fans invading the 17th green after Justin Leonard’s putt, but before José Maria Olazábal could make his putt. The behaviour was criticized by both US and European players.

So, while Donald and McIlroy’s initiatives and thoughts are commendable, nothing can really prepare you until you’re actually in that.