The gates at the Ryder Cup open at 5 a.m. this weekend, and once they do, it’ll be a mad dash to the first-tee grandstands. That’s when 4,000 lucky early risers could snag the best seat in the house to watch their team tee off in the bi-annual international golf tournament, which pits a 12-member team from the United States vs. a team from Europe.
But this year, there’s even more reason to arrive early at Bethpage Black. Breakfast at Bethpage—hosted by Staten Island native Colin Jost—is making its debut. The concept was born at the Ryder Cup in Italy in 2023 through a partnership between T-Mobile, the PGA of America, Pro Shop Studios (makers of Happy Gilmore 2) and Omaha Productions, the media company founded by Peyton and Eli Manning. Now fully realized in New York, the series is part-viewing party, part-comedy showcase, and part-cultural event, blending golf with Hollywood energy, comedy and entertainment.
Jost is leading the proceedings this year with co-host and fellow SNL comedian Marcello Hernandez. He’ll be joined by a lineup of comedians, Hollywood stars, and cultural figures throughout the weekend. Fans on-site will get the full experience, while viewers at home can tune in through on Peacock, making it easier than ever to be part of the early action.
“We have a lot of great guests coming on that you’ll know from all kinds of culture,” says Jost. “So it’s not just golf-related. Most people are not golf-related. So we’re trying to appeal to everyone and be a real alternative kind of telecast. I think anyone can watch, even if you have very limited golf knowledge.”
Jost sees the new morning show as more than just pre-round entertainment. “Comedy is a great unifier—it brings people together,” he says. “Laughing together is probably the best way (to start the day),” he adds. At an event built on team spirit and national pride, Breakfast at Bethpage aims to do exactly that: start the day with connection before the competition begins.
As the official 5G wireless partner of the Ryder Cup, T-Mobile is making its presence felt well beyond the fairways. Breakfast at Bethpage runs on its 5G network, recognized by Ookla as the fastest in America, giving fans a seamless way to tune in whether they’re on-site or following from home. And inside the Fan Zone, Club Magenta offers T-Mobile Magenta Status customers (plus two guests) a shaded retreat with cold drinks, exclusive Ryder Cup merchandise, golf simulators, and daily appearances from names like Michelle Wie West, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and comedian Heather McMahan.
Fresh off hosting the Emmys red carpet and in the middle of her sold-out Bamboozled Tour, McMahan brings the same energy that’s packing theaters across the country to the Ryder Cup stage. A longtime fan of the game —and friend to many PGA Tour players and wives— she’s also launching a new golf-themed web series titled What’s The Tee? For her, the parallels between golf and stand-up are obvious.
“Golf is so much like standup,” McMahan tells Rolling Stone. “It’s a solo sport, and you look for anything to blame but yourself,” she jokes. “You’re like, ‘Oh, the crows were bad, someone was too drunk. I didn’t like that club or that theater.’ It’s the same thing with golf. ‘The birds were too loud, it was windy, I got a sunburn.’ No, sometimes, it’s just you,” she says, “and you have to look inward.”
With comedy at the heart of the weekend—from Jost to McMahan—this week’s Ryder Cup gives fans a chance to step into something lighthearted, a refreshing escape from everyday distractions. While Team USA aims to bring the cup home after their loss to Team Europe in 2023, the weekend is about energy, camaraderie, and enjoying the game—reminding everyone that a little humor and shared experience can foster a sense of unity even in a high-stakes competition.
“The Ryder Cup is more than a golf tournament — it’s a sports moment that captures passion, rivalry, and tradition on a global scale,” says Mo Katibeh, CMO, T-Mobile Business Group. “It’s the perfect stage to demonstrate how T-Mobile 5G is transforming the live event experience. From 5G-powered broadcast innovation to real-time fan experience enhancements, we’re unlocking entirely new ways to experience the game — on their phone, on their TV and everywhere in between.”
At the end of the day, the Ryder Cup isn’t just golf—it’s a reminder of what happens when competition builds community instead of division.