By ABC News

Copyright abc

President Donald Trump started Friday by warning that more of his enemies would face prosecution, shaking the foundations of the American justice system by treating it as a tool of political retribution.

And then he jetted off to the Ryder Cup to enjoy the rest of the day as the golfer-in-chief, watching the US compete against Europe as the sun shone and the crowd cheered.

It is the latest example of how Mr Trump seizes the attention that comes along with high-profile sporting events, putting his personal imprint on activities that have existed for generations as largely nonpartisan affairs.

Standing on the tee box in white golf shoes and a dark suit, the Republican president led spectators in a “USA!” chant a day after James Comey, the former FBI director, became the first former senior government official involved in one of Trump’s chief grievances to face prosecution.

Mr Trump had demanded the prosecution out of anger over Mr Comey’s role in the Russia investigation during his first term, and even replaced an experienced US attorney in Virginia to ensure the case moved forward.

Even as he has pushed the bounds of the presidency in his second term, Mr Trump still found a warm welcome at the Ryder Cup.

The crowd, many of whom endured lengthy security delays, chanted “USA! USA!” as Air Force One flew low over the closing holes at the Bethpage Black course, a show of force that he used on the campaign trail with his private plane and has continued with his government-issued ride.

When Mr Trump stepped away from the course after watching the afternoon four-ball matches tee off, some people in the stands behind him chanted “48,” a suggestion that they wanted the 45th and 47th president to serve an unconstitutional third term.

“He’s doing a hell of a job for the country,” Phil Dunn of Pittsburgh said.

“He’s trying to bring people together.”

Golf has always been something of a refuge for Trump. He owns several courses and visits often on the weekends to play and hold meetings.

On the day the 2020 election was called for Joe Biden, he played a round in Virginia, ensconced in a bubble of adulation despite voters’ rejection.

The People’s Country Club

This year’s Ryder Cup represented a synthesis at the heart of Mr Trump’s political appeal as a billionaire with populist tastes.

Although golf has a reputation as an elitist sport, Bethpage, on Long Island, is known as the “People’s Country Club” and is one of the few public courses to host professional tournaments.

The course is about 44km east of Manhattan, in a suburban county that Mr Trump won in 2024.

The Ryder Cup draws a patriotic scene since it pits American players against Europeans. Over-the-top attire — red-white-and-blue overalls, bald eagle shirts and even tricorn hats — are common sights.

“Now Watergate does not bother me,” Lynyrd Skynyrd sang over the loudspeaker.

“Does your conscience bother you? Tell the truth.”

The president arrived through a tunnel beneath the grandstand, an announcer heralding his arrival. The crowd roared and broke into more “USA!” chants.

European fans countered with “Ole!” but were quickly drowned out. Mr Trump saluted as New York City firefighter Bryan Robinson sang the national anthem. The crowd erupted again as a quartet of military jets raced across the sky.

He then watched from behind a glass barrier near the first tee and the 18th green as the day’s second round of matches got underway.

Mr Trump left his perch to greet US captain Keegan Bradley, who gave him a thumbs-up and bowed to him. Bradley also did an imitation of the arm-pumping dance that Mr Trump made famous on the campaign trail and several players, including US Open champion JJ Spaun, followed suit.

Mr Trump has often harnessed the platform of sports to broaden his reach in American culture. His armoured limousine led drivers on two ceremonial laps at the Daytona 500, and already this month he mingled with the New York Yankees in their locker room and attended the US Open tennis tournament.

Sport becomes central to Trump’s presidency

Sports will only become more central to his presidency. The US is hosting the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the World Cup next year, along with Canada and Mexico.

Trump has suggested reshaping the schedule for the soccer tournament to mesh with his political agenda by moving matches away from US cities that he deems unsafe.

Some of the cities, he said recently in the Oval Office, were “run by radical left lunatics” and he proposed expanding deployments of National Guard troops. He added that “if I think it isn’t safe, we’ll move it to a different city.”

Little of these controversies were on people’s minds at Bethpage on Friday.

Jody Erwin, of Houston, wore a Captain America costume and a red American flag hat from Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey. He played the course on Wednesday, his first time there, and was excited that Trump was attending the Ryder Cup.

“He supports golf. He loves golf,” Mr Erwin said. “That’s his whole deal.”

He brushed off the idea that golf has been a safe space for someone like the president, saying: “I don’t think he can ever relax.”

Peter Bruce, who attended from London while decked out in Europe’s blue-and-yellow colours, was less enthusiastic.

“It’s not about him, it’s about those 12 players for each team out there,” Mr Bruce said.

“It would be better if he decided not to come.”

David Ferraro of Babylon, New York, wore a “Make America Great Again” hat to the tournament and wanted to sit as close to Mr Trump as possible.

“The more times you can see the president, the more access you get to a president, the better,” Ferraro said.

Europe dominates US amidst the circus

Amidst the pomp and ceremony of Trump’s visit, it was Europe that dominated the US on the scorecard.

Justin Thomas needed to make a 5-foot putt on the 15th green to keep the opening day’s most highly anticipated match going at the Ryder Cup. But that putt — like so many others — skimmed the edge.

Thomas slumped his shoulders and headed over to shake hands with Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton after the European team’s 4-and-3 win over the US power pairing of Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau.

A match that was supposed to build momentum did just that — but for Europe, not the United States.

“Not exactly what we wanted,” US captain Keegan Bradley said, summing up a morning that left the US staring at a 3-1 deficit that grew even larger in the afternoon.

Europe brings a 5 1/2 to 2 1/2 lead into day two. No team has overcome that big a first-day deficit since the US in 1999.

The day started with so much promise. With the sun still coming up over Long Island, DeChambeau and Thomas walked to the first tee, draping an American flag over their shoulders.

DeChambeau took out a driver and, just as he had been practising all week, hit it over the trees on the right and tried to drive the green.

It was the shot American fans woke up early to see — the shot captain Keegan Bradley hoped would spark the Americans to a victory on home turf.

The ball landed in the fairway, about 40 yards short of the putting surface. A few minutes later, DeChambeau made a 10-foot birdie to go 1-up.

Bradley couldn’t have drawn it up better. He also probably could not have imagined it would be the only hole his lead team would win all round.

DeChambeau went on to team with Ben Griffin in the afternoon fourball matches. They won two holes in that one, but lost 1-down to Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.

The morning loss was a loss punctuated not by great drives, but by putters that did not cooperate. The US missed seven putts from 15 feet and closer, any of which would have won or tied holes.

Europe, meanwhile, got breaks and took advantage of them.

The best picture of the day was Hatton in a plank position in the seventh rough, checking out Rahm’s errant drive that was perched awkwardly behind a stick. Hatton sized it up and hit onto the green from that tricky lie and Europe made par.

Thomas missed a 7-footer to tie and America’s 1-up lead was gone.

“A bit of a hit-and-hope,” Hatton called the approach on number seven.

“Thankfully, it went straight. I was happy to have a clean line and to see that the stick wouldn’t affect it.”

A fan blurted out “let’s go, Europe!” after that hole — a cheer briefly drowned out by boos from an American crowd still holding out hope.

A hole later, Rahm made a 12-footer to give the Europeans the lead for good. Most of the rest of this match was played in near silence on what was supposed to be one of America’s most raucous golf courses, Bethpage Black.

One exception came on number 12, when Hatton lined up a putt, then stepped away to flick away a gnat. Fans showered him with boos. Then, Hatton lined it up again and made the 20-footer to make it 3-up, Europe.

Rahm improved to 5-0 lifetime in Ryder Cup foursomes. The Rahm-Hatton duo is now 3-0-1.

Rahm conceded the start was a bit intimidating — all that shouting and DeChambeau hitting a perfect shot under pressure.

“We stayed in it and started hitting good shots and getting positive vibes,” he said.

“Tyrell is very, very dependable when things get difficult. I’ve got full confidence in him every single time.”