Overview

• World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay said they will donate their $200,000 stipends, part of a PGA of America plan that also directs $300,000 per U.S. player to charity.
• Europe rejected payment for participation, with captain Luke Donald saying his team agreed this is not a week to get paid, while U.S. captain Keegan Bradley defended the policy as modernization.
• Expecting a raucous atmosphere that could include President Donald Trump on Friday, Europe used virtual reality headsets to simulate crowd abuse as part of its mental preparation.
• Foursomes will open play Friday and Saturday, a format where recent history favors hosts; Donald described Bethpage’s setup as tough but more birdie-friendly than a U.S. Open test.
• Practice and narratives set the tone as U.S. groups trialed potential pairings, Europe wore outfits honoring past away wins, a famous Bethpage warning plaque was temporarily removed, and pundits’ models and commentary largely leaned toward a U.S. edge.