By Peter Scrivener

Copyright bbc

Let’s get the big one out of the way first. Even Donald is expecting a “bear pit” at Bethpage and the skipper has handed out virtual reality headsets to the players to replicate the abuse they are expecting.

Raucous home crowds have become a staple of Ryder Cups and while most of the partisan support is good natured, it can, occasionally cross the line.

“It’s not going to come as a shock,” Sir Nick Faldo, a stalwart of 11 Ryder Cups, told BBC Sport. “You’re going to have to be mentally prepared for it.

“It’s going to be down to discipline – something’s going to go on, something’s going to be said and we’re saying to Luke, could you make it a rule that nobody will crack, or over-react.

“I think you have a secret word between you and your caddie. You turn and look and say something, have a little laugh and then he says ‘right job at hand, get on with it’. Get the golfer to click back in. This is a great golf course, we’ve got to play a great shot, that will keep you 100% focused.”

It’s not easy to block out though.

Colin Montgomerie was subjected to such bad abuse at Brookline in 1999 that his late father was forced to walk away from his singles match against then US Open champion Payne Stewart.

The Scot was leading by three holes when “things changed on the ninth tee”.

“It got ugly, somebody shouted out and didn’t allow me to hit my tee shot,” he recalled.

“I turned round to the crowd and said if this happens again, or I’m not allowed to play, then unfortunately I’ll have to walk in.

“I was shaking at the time, I’m feeling it now talking about it. This is a game of golf.”

Despite his own reaction, Montgomerie echoed Faldo’s thoughts on focusing on the task ahead and how crucial a fast start could be.

“Friday is massive for Europe,” he said. “If we can get ahead and stay ahead, you’ll probably find the American hostility could be directed at their own players.”

Justin Rose, who will make his seventh appearance for Europe this week, has direct experience of that from 2012, when Europe mounted an epic final-day comeback at Medinah.

“The crowd in Chicago were rough and tough but for the most part the Americans had the upper hand,” he said.

“But as soon as we were able to flip the script, the crowd did change, they did go quiet. They didn’t like it and that’s going to be our goal, to pacify the crowd.

“I don’t think it’s going to be easy. I don’t think we should expect to pacify the crowd, that might not be possible. We’ve just got to be resilient as a team.

“But Medinah proves it’s possible.”

And he believes the pressure and expectation from the home fans might be as tough for the US players to deal with.

“It’s about not letting the environment affect us,” he said.

“But none of us, even the Americans, will have played in that before. Obviously it will be more pro for them but at the same time it’s going to be different – so if we can deal with it we’ve got an awesome chance to win.”