by Connor Whalen ‘28 on February 12, 2026

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Sports - Professional

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The 2023 World Baseball Classic wrote all-time, classic moments into the history books of baseball: Trea Turner’s grand slam against Venezuela, a Czech electrician striking out Shohei Ohtani—the world’s best baseball player, Mexico’s run led by Randy Arozarena, and the unforgettable at-bat in which Ohtani struck out his Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to win the title for Japan. This year’s Classic brings a deeper, more talented pool of teams, and should be an exciting tournament to watch from the pool play to the championship. The tournament features 20 teams from around the world, split up into four pools of five. The teams play a round-robin series of games, and the two top teams from each pool advance to the knockout phase. The eight teams are then narrowed down to one winner in a single-elimination bracket. 

The World Baseball Classic is the perfect tournament both for diehard fans and for casual fans of the sport. For Americans there is a built in rooting interest—the United States or the team representing one’s ethnic background—making the tournament engaging and enjoyable. The former not only get to watch the biggest stars of the sport compete against each other in a high stakes, competitive setting, but also get to see exciting prospects get a chance to shine on a big stage, former Major League Baseball fan favorites take the field years after retirement to represent their country, and simply some of the best, high-quality baseball that one could possibly watch. 

Pool A is possibly the most difficult of the pools to predict, as it contains no clear favorite, but the teams are about as even as they possibly can be. I predict Canada to win the pool, with Puerto Rico in second place and also advancing, leaving behind Colombia, Panama, and Cuba. Canada has the most complete team of the group, with major league experience in every area of the roster. Puerto Rico would, in any other year, be the favorite, but many of their star players—such as the New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor—are not participating this year. 

Team USA is no doubt the favorite to win Pool B, but it will by no means whatsoever be a cake walk. Mexico and Italy are great teams, both with dangerous lineups. Great Britain features New York Yankees’ star Jazz Chisholm and other MLB players. I predict the U.S. to still come out on top, and Italy to take second, upsetting Mexico and knocking them out early. Barring any miracles, Great Britain and Brazil will take No. 4 and No. 5 and be sent home packing. 

Pool C is Japan’s for the taking, the only other relevant team being Korea. I predict Korea to take second, followed by Taiwan, Australia, and Czechia; this group is, without a doubt, the most predictable of the bunch.

Pool D will be the most interesting to watch. The Dominican Republic should win the pool, as its 2026 squad is as well-regarded as any in the tournament. Their lineup is most likely the best in the world, headlined by stars such as Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Julio Rodriguez, among others. Venezuela, however, should be talked about just as much as any other nation. Led by Ronald Acuna, Jr., the Venezuelan lineup is dangerous from top to bottom, and their pitching staff is among the best in the world. The D.R. and Venezuela should absolutely tear this pool apart, though it is a shame the Netherlands—a fun team consisting of stars from former Dutch territories Curacao and Aruba—will not stand a chance, as they could have in other pools. Israel and Nicaragua round out the last two spots and will be no match for the Latin American powerhouses. 

I predict the U.S., Italy (my favorite dark horse pick this year), Venezuela (who I predict, rather unpopularly, to dethrone Ohtani and reigning world champion Japan), and the D. R. will win their pools. The U.S. should make the final rather easily this year, as its three biggest threats—Japan, the D.R., and Venezuela—all lie on the other side of the bracket. The D.R. will, in my view, be taking their place in the final against the U.S., though Venezuela should absolutely not be underestimated. I predict them also to defeat the U.S. in the final. The U.S. will use either Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal, should they make the final; they are undeniably the two best pitchers in the world. However, Dominican Christopher Sanchez is as good as any pitcher on the planet outside of those two, and can give his nation a fighting chance. The Dominican lineup is simply too good and will overpower any opposing team standing in their way. Regardless of who wins, however, the tournament will feature great storylines and great baseball, and should continue its growth in popularity this year, adding more global awareness and fandom to the sport of baseball. Be sure to tune in!

by Sarah Wolff ’28 and Andrew Vines ’29 on January 29, 2026

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Sports

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BC

As Providence College sports fans, we are spoiled with high-stakes rivalry games throughout the year. Whether it’s Big East basketball or nationally recognized hockey, Friars fans are rarely left without something to rally behind. Still, the question remains, is there enough energy for both sports? And which rivalry brings more excitement: the Boston College-Providence College hockey game or the Georgetown University-Providence College basketball game? Both draw major crowds and have long-standing traditions. Yet, when it comes to the pure atmosphere and investment in the sport itself, hosting BC in Schneider Arena remains unmatched.

There is no denying the significance of when Georgetown basketball, a Big East team with a nationally recognized name, comes to the Amica Mutual Pavilion. However, the excitement with this game in particular stems from Ed Cooley’s history at PC. His success with the program defined a whole wave of PC basketball, and his quick departure left his reputation here in the dust. So, for many fans, the Georgetown game is less about the game happening on the court and more about its storyline. The boos and chants are driven not by deeply rooted rivalry between programs but by school loyalty and memory. 

On the other hand, hockey thrives on a different kind of energy. While PC hockey does generate a similar sense of community, the crowd in Schneider is there to watch hockey. The  BC-Providence rivalry is more about regional pride than anything else. These are two very elite New England programs with years of shared history and a level of intensity and pressure that basketball rarely sees. The atmosphere at a PC hockey game is uniquely electric. As a sport, hockey is fast, physical, and has an unpredictable pace that keeps viewers fully engaged, because they could miss something game-changing in a second. If you combine that with a competition against a nationally prominent team like BC, attention will reach far beyond campus, and the energy runs purely through the game.
– Sarah Wolff ’28 
Sports Staff

Georgetown

 The Providence College versus Georgetown University men’s basketball rivalry heated up in March of 2023 following the departure of former Providence Head Coach Ed Cooley. After 12 years at the helm of the Friars and following a Sweet 16 run, Cooley decided to leave PC to take the head coaching job at a fellow Big East school: Georgetown. 

This departure greatly upset Friars fans, asCooley’s focus during the NCAA Tournament run seemed to shift from his team to his next job. With Cooley leaving for a fellow Big East school, he would face Providence twice a year and make an annual trip back to the community he betrayed.  

Cooley made his first return to Providence on Jan. 27, 2024. A betrayed fanbase welcomed him with loud boos. Students waited for hours to get into the game and let Cooley hear it. The environment was one of the best in the sport. Combining one of the top fanbases with the pure hatred they had for Cooley led to an inevitable showdown. In his first return to Providence, Cooley and the Hoyas suffered an 84–76 defeat. Devin Carter ’24 led the way with 29 points.  

Cooley returned in 2025 and was greeted by another restless crowd, and once again suffered a loss with a final score of 78–68. This year, on Jan. 24, Cooley and the Hoyas walked into a packed Amica Mutual Pavilion. With a full crowd, Cooley definitely heard the hate. Cooley walked out about 90 minutes before tipoff to boos, which then continued throughout the game. Cooley and the Hoyas emerged victorious after coming back from being down by 21 points, winning 81–78.  

Despite the loss, the fans still showed up and brought the noise to a game that featured two of the worst teams in the Big East. Both teams entered the game at 9–10. This matchup shows both the strength of the fan base and of the rivalry. 
– Andrew Vines ’29
Sports Staff

by Emilia Farrall ‘28 on January 22, 2026

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Sports - Olympics

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Opening ceremonies for the 2026 Winter Olympics will begin on Feb. 6 in Milan and Cortina, Italy. People around the world will be tuning in to watch their team compete on a global stage. Unlike the Summer Games, the Winter Olympics feature some events that I find to be rather niche. Events such as figure skating, snowboarding, and ice hockey are definitely well known events, but have you ever heard of ski mountaineering or nordic combined?

 Ski mountaineering, or “skimo” for short, will make its Olympic debut during the 2026 games. The race begins with athletes ascending the mountain on skis. Towards the top of the mountain, the skis are removed and carried on athletes’ backs for the “portage” section of the race. Then it’s all downhill, reattaching their skis for the end of the race. The most competitive races last between 2.5 to three minutes, making it an exciting event for viewers at home. Participants for Team USA include Cameron Smith from Colorado and Anna Gibson from Wyoming.

Nordic combined has been an event at the Winter Games since 1924. It features three events: individual normal hill, individual large hill, and the team sprint large hill. Athletes jump from the hill and receive points based on style and then race to the finish. Essentially it combines who can jump the farthest with who can race the fastest. Nordic combined is only a men’s event, as the International Olympic Committee refused to add a women’s competition to this year’s program. Nordic combined is the only sport reserved only for men in this year’s Olympic Games.

My personal favorite winter sport to watch is skeleton, which made its debut in 1928. It is an individual sport where athletes start with a 30 second sprint before diving headfirst onto their sled down the icy track. Athletes control the sled through slight shifts in their body. Athletes will complete four “runs” usually over the course of a few days, and the athlete with the fastest combined time for the four races is the winner. The United States and Great Britain should lead the way this winter, with three Olympic gold medals apiece in skeleton. Notable members from Team USA include Kelly Curtis who won the silver medal in the 2026 World Cup in St. Moritz with a time of 2:22.12. 

The 2026 Winter Games will be the first to be cohosted by two respective cities, Milan and Cortina. The two cities are 255 miles from each other and are roughly five hours apart by car. All events that take place on ice (except curling) will take place in Milan while the remaining will be held in  Cortina. The opening ceremonies will also be held in Milan. It will be the third Winter Olympics and fourth overall Olympics to be hosted in Italy.

by Emilia Farrall ‘28 on November 20, 2025

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Sports

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Women’s Basketball

The women’s basketball team is off to a 2–1 start this season. On Monday night, Nov. 10, the team defeated Central Connecticut State University with an impressive score of 65–40. Teneisia Brown ’26G had her first double-double as a Friar with 12 points, 14 rebounds, and three steals. On Saturday afternoon, the team earned their second win of the season against Boston College, 70–61. Payton Dunbar ’28 scored in double figures with a career-high 22 points. Looking ahead, the team will face Northeastern University on Nov. 18 and Yale University on Nov. 21, both at home in Alumni Hall.

Men’s Ice Hockey

Last weekend, the men’s ice hockey team went 1–1 against Merrimack College. On Friday, Nov. 14, the team won 4–2 at pinkout night at Schneider Arena. Roger McQueen ’29 scored his first two NCAA goals. Tanner Adams ’27 and Logan Sawyer ’28 also registered one apiece. The team traveled to Merrimack on Nov. 15, but ultimately fell 3–2. After the weekend, the team is 5–4–2 on the season and 3–2–1 in Hockey East play. Next up, the Friars will face the University of Massachusetts twice, home on Thursday, Nov. 20 and away on Saturday, Nov. 22. 

Women’s Cross Country

On Friday, Nov. 14, the women’s cross country team competed in the NCAA Northeast regional race in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. The team had three runners in the top 10 on the 6k course; Anna Gardiner ’28 placed No. 6, Cara Laverty ’26 placed No. 7, and Gabrielle ’28 Schmidt placed No. 9 for the Friars. In addition to the three in the top 10, Niamh O’Mahony ’26 and Kate Currie ’29 earned NCAA-All Northeast Region honors for their finishes. This resulted in the team placing No. 2 out of 37 teams and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 22. This will be their fifth consecutive appearance at the championships and their 33rd overall appearance.

Men’s Soccer

The men’s soccer team finished their season with a 2–0 loss to first-seeded Georgetown University in the Big East Semifinal game. Ryan Carney ’29 had five saves in net for the Friars, two in the first half and three in the second half, making this his second-highest save total of the season. The team did not give up; they had six shots on goal in the second half compared to their four in the first half. The Friars finished their season 6–7–3 overall and with an impressive 4–2–2 in Big East play.

by Pippa Jones ‘28 on October 30, 2025

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Sports

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Men’s Ice Hockey

Last weekend, the men’s ice hockey team played the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Playing back-to-back games on Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25, the Friars suffered a loss in overtime on Friday, then came back with a 7–4 win on Saturday. Goalie Philip Svedebäck ’26 had 24 saves on Friday and six saves on Saturday, marking his 100th career game. Goalie Jack Parsons ’29 had his first career win with 15 saves on Saturday and one goal conceded. Saturday’s game marked a huge turning point for the Friars, as they were down 4–1 until Kale McCallum ’G26 scored in the second period to turn the tide. Hudson Malinoski ’27 tied the game with his first goal of the season. In the 3rd period, John Mustard ’28 and Graham Gamache’s ’27 goals secured the win. Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m., the Friars return to Schneider Arena to take on UMass Lowell.

Women’s Field Hockey

On Oct. 26, the women’s field hockey team had its second-to-last game of the season against the No. 9 ranked Brown University. Before the match, the team honored their two seniors, Caroline Krebs ’26 and Zoe Onken ’26. Providence fell short, losing 5–1, and they evened out their season record of 8–8. Against Brown, forward Lily Procaccianti ’27 scored the Friars’ lone goal, making it her 8th goal this season. Goalkeeper Zoe Onken ’26 had nine saves against Brown’s offensive attempts. Next Friday, Oct. 31, the team returns to Lennon Field to play its season finale game against Temple University. 

Women’s Soccer

Women’s soccer defeated the Villanova Wildcats this past Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Higgins Soccer Complex in Villanova, PA. Lily Gibbs ’29 scored two goals against the Wildcats to secure their win. The second goal was assisted by Amaya Coffie ’29. Goalkeeper Ellie Thallman ’G26 had a career high of seven saves for the Friars with only one goal conceded. Providence recorded 15 shots on goal, while Villanova had 11. This season, the team has an overall record of 6–6–3. Next Saturday, Nov. 1, the team faces DePaul University away in Chicago to close out their season. 

Men’s Basketball

This Saturday, the men’s basketball team kicked off their season by playing an exhibition game against Harvard University. With a stacked roster, Providence came out on top with an 85–77 win. Jason Edwards ’G26 led the game with 16 points. Behind him were Jaylin Sellers ’G26 and Jamir Jones ’29 with 14 points. After Harvard missed their last free throws, Providence was able to finish off strong and take the win. This concludes our men’s basketball team’s exhibition portion of the season. Their first game is Nov. 3 at the AMP against the College of the Holy Cross. With Edwards and Oswin Erhunmwunse ’28 being named to the preseason All Big-East team, Friar fans are in for a treat with this team.

by Pippa Jones ‘28 on October 23, 2025

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Sports

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The renowned soccer player, Son Heung-Min, 33, from South Korea has recently made his debut in the U.S. by signing with Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer (MLS). As an extremely talented player, Son has proven his skillset with nine goals and three assists in just ten league outings. He has been dominating MLS and rapidly making his way into the hearts of American soccer fanatics. 

Son’s father, Son Woong-Jung, is a retired soccer manager who played on South Korea’s B team. Building on his father’s success, Son has had an impactful influence on the sport. Son now plays for South Korea’s national team and is the captain. Son has remarkable technical skills, thus the coined nickname “Silky Son.” His quick feet and ball control stem from his proficiency at using both feet rather than being dominant in just one.

Son started his professional soccer career in the Bundesliga, the German soccer league. At the age of 16, he began playing for Amburger SV in 2010. He then transferred to Bayer Leverkusen. Son is trilingual, fluent in Korean, English, and German. He became fluent in German during his time there to show his dedication to his career. After the Bundesliga, Son signed with the North London Premier League team, Tottenham Hotspur FC. Spurs fans immediately adored him with his technicality on the pitch and his compassion off the pitch. Son helped Tottenham become the runner-up in Champions League in the 2018–19 season. Son later became the first Asian to be awarded the Golden Boot in the 2021–22 season, scoring 23 goals. Finally, Son gained his captaincy in 2023 and went on to be a strong leader for the Spurs throughout his remaining seasons. In his final season with the club in 2025, Son led the team to win the European League Title. This was Son’s last gift to the club before leaving for Los Angeles. 

As a winger, Son was skilled both at scoring and assisting others to score. Son and his former teammate Harry Kane, a striker, worked very well together with the blend of their technical skills. Son had a very impressive career with​​ Tottenham with his goals and assists. In the 2016–2017 season, he had 14 goals and six assists. In the 2020–21 and the 2023–24 seasons, he had 17 goals each. In the 2021–22 season, he had reached 23 goals and seven assists. In his entire career with the Premier League, he had 127 goals and 71 assists.  

Considering the lack of many South Korean professional soccer players, Son is viewed as a national pride in South Korea for his immense success and contributions to his country. Son also increased South Korean Spurs views and has created new attention to soccer in South Korea. Tottenham fans have speculated (and are hoping) that he may return to the club for a short loan. Although this has been mentioned in the soccer community, it is also highly unlikely considering his commitment to the MLS and his demanding schedule. Although fans are upset about his absence, the Spurs fans are following his success from afar. It will be interesting to observe the next page for Son and watch him continue his amazing career in the U.S.

by Dorothée Durivage ’28 on October 9, 2025

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Sports

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Bruno Rosa ’26, the 6’2” forward from Cascais, Portugal, is currently playing in his third season with the Friars. Prior to his transferring to Providence, Rosa played NJCAA soccer for Monroe College in New York for two years. There, he finished top six in assists for NJCAA DI and helped lead his team to both a Regional Championship and a NJCAA DI National Championship in 2022. He went to Monroe College after playing for FC Porto Academy, Boavista FC Academy, and A.D. Oeiras Academy in Portugal.

On Friday, Oct. 3, the Friars went up against Villanova’s Wildcats to kick off Homecoming weekend. During the game, Rosa scored two goals and had one assist which marks his season high so far. He led the team in points on Friday and tied with his high of two goals from last season. Having played 700 minutes over 10 games so far this season, Rosa has had more minutes this season than last season, showing he is on track to an even better season than his already great season in 2024. In 2024, he played and started 22 games for the Friars and led the team in points as well as assists with 16 points and six assists. Rosa finished the season with a career high of five goals and 1,533 minutes, allowing him to be named to All-Big East Second Team.

The Friars’ men’s soccer team is off to a good start with a 4–5–1 overall record and a 2–1–0 Big East record so far. Rosa has played in all 10 games, showing that he is a key player to drive the team forward. Providence has had a total of 133 shots in total thus far, 20 of those belonging to Rosa, and 59 shots on goal, 13 of which belong to Rosa. This means that Rosa has 15 percent of the team’s overall shots and 22 percent of the team’s shots on goal. The Friars are in a great position to continue to have a good season, having a lot of experienced players on their team. 

Having secured the win against the Wildcats, the Friars are off to a great start in the Big East. With only three games played in conference so far, everything is still at play for the team, and they have everything they need to have a great rest of their season, especially in the Big East. 

With head coach Craig Stewart, the Friars are in good hands. Stewart enters his 14th season as the head coach of the Providence College men’s soccer team as the fourth head coach in school history. In his 16 seasons as a head coach, 13 of which have been at Providence and three at Franklin Pierce University, Stewart has led his teams to a 178–90–39 record, including nine trips to the NCAA Tournament. He has led the team to the semifinals in 2014 and the quarterfinals in 2016. Most recently, the Friars made the tournament last season where they fell to Clemson University in the second round.

by Emilia Farrell ‘28 on October 9, 2025

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Sports

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Men’s Hockey

The men’s hockey team opened their season with two exhibition games at Schneider Arena. On Oct. 3, the Friars beat Simon Fraser University, 7–1. Starting goalie Philip Svedebäck ’26 had a shutout with 11 saves during his time on the ice. On Oct. 5, the Friars also won a close game against Quinnipiac University, 2–1. While the Bobcats struck first, goals by Aleksi Kivioja ’28 and Logan Sawyer ’28 provided the offense necessary to come up with the win. Looking ahead, the team will play the University of Michigan on Oct. 10 and 11 at home. This will be the Wolverines’ first trip to Schneider Arena and the sixth and seventh meetings all-time between the schools.

Field Hockey

The field hockey team is currently 7–4 for the season and 1–2 in conference play. The team fell to the University of Connecticut on Oct. 3 in Storrs with a score of 1–3. Their most recent win came against the University of Vermont on Sunday in overtime. After being tied 1–1, Carly van Benten ’29 came through with an assist from Martu Torre Festa ’28. This was van Benten’s fourth goal this season. The team faces Quinnipiac University on Friday, Oct. 10 and Sacred Heart University on the following Sunday, both at Lennon Family Field.

Women’s Cross Country

The women’s cross country team recently competed in the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational, hosted by Loyola University Chicago, on Oct. 3. The Friars, who are ranked No. 7in the NCAA, scored 224 points and placed No. 10 overall in the invitational. Gabby Schmidt ’28 led the team, placing No. 26 in the women’s 6k, finishing with a time of 20:19.21. Schmidt was the Big East female co-athlete of the week from Sept. 1–7 after winning the Friar Invitational in Attleboro, MA.  Following Schmidt in the meet, Cara Laverty ’26 came in No. 37 with a time of 20:28.95. The Friars’ next appearance will be on Friday, Oct. 10, for the New England Championship.

Men’s Soccer

The men’s soccer team is currently 4–5–1 for the season and 2–1 in Big East conference play. This includes a huge 5–0 win against Villanova on Oct. 3 at Chapey Field. Bruno Rosa ’26 led the offense with two goals that night. The team’s goaltending resulted in a shutout with a joint effort from Ryan Carney ’29 and Julian Ballester ’29. The team looks for additional Big East wins as they face St. John’s University on Oct.11 and Marquette University on Oct. 17.

by Izzy Mignardi ‘27 on October 9, 2025

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Sports

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Walking across campus on Wednesday, Oct. 1, you might have seen a proud, beaming fan wearing a Red Sox hoodie, laughing with their friend on the way to Ryan Business School. Twenty feet later, you might have seen a girl with downcast eyes wearing a “New York or Nowhere” trucker hat. Nothing can divide a group of college-age students like playoff baseball.

After the Yankees lost the first game of the series to the Red Sox, some baseball enthusiasts thought the Red Sox had secured the series, since no team has lost Game One and gone on to advance to the ALDS or NLDS since the three-game format was introduced in 2022. Nonetheless, the Yankees won Game Two and Game Three, becoming the first team to break this streak.

Game One started with the Yankees taking the lead in the second inning with a solo home run by Anthony Volpe. An RBI by Masataka Yoshida at the top of the seventh gave Boston the 2–1 lead, which was solidified by Alex Bregman with an RBI double, ending the game with a 3–1 win by Boston. Boston’s Garrett Crochet dominated, allowing only one run and pitching a career high of 117 pitches. Chapman loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but the Yankees failed to score. Max Fried pitched well but was replaced by Luke Weaver, who gave up a two-run single, double, and a walk.

Both Ben Rice and Jazz Chisholm didn’t start in Game One, but are credited with helping the Yankees win Game Two. Rice hit a two-run home run early in the game. Trevor Story tied the game 2–2 in the third inning, and later in the sixth hit a solo home run to tie the game again at 3–3 (after Trent Grisham scored on an RBI single by Aaron Judge, which dropped out of Jarren Duran’s glove). In the eighth, Austin Wells hit an RBI single, allowing Jazz Chisholm to score, giving the Yankees the final 4–3 lead.

The stakes were high in Game Three: win or go home. Rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler pitched a historic game: eight shutout innings, 12 strikeouts, no walks. Although from Massachusetts, he’s proven to be a true Yankee. He said, “I woke up and I was locked in. I knew exactly what I needed to do and go out there, especially against my hometown team. As I told Andy [Pettitte] yesterday, I wasn’t going to let them beat me.”

All four of New York’s runs came in the fourth inning; Amed Rosario and Anthony Volpe each with an RBI single, and Austin Wells hit a grounder to first base, where Nathaniel Lowe errored, which allowed the two more runs. The Yankees thrived on the defensive end, too, particularly with Ryan McMahon’s incredible catch as he flipped over into the Sox dugout.

So, Friday morning rolls around, and the girl in the “New York or Nowhere” hat has more pep in her step despite the hangover from last night’s celebration. The kid in the Red Sox hoodie says, “Good luck in Toronto,” and laughs.

The Yankees will need it. They now face the Blue Jays, and again lost the first game of the series with a devastating score of 10–1.

This article was written prior to the games on Oct. 4 and 6.

by Chris Sama ’27 on October 9, 2025

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Sports

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The 45th Ryder Cup matches, held from Sept. 26–28 in Farmingdale, New York were eventful; team Europe won the Ryder Cup on U.S. greens, and the crowd’s conduct was very controversial. The Ryder Cup is a highly prestigious golf tournament that takes place every two years, with the best players from America and Europe facing off on their respective continents. This year, the Ryder Cup was held on Long Island, giving Team U.S.A. the home advantage. The atmosphere is electric, drawing a wide crowd of golf fans from around the world. Players are chosen for each national team based on rankings and performances. Bethpage Black is regarded as an exceptional golf course and is especially known for its difficulty. The tournament had Team U.S.A., with captain Keegan Bradley, against Team Europe, led by captain Luke Donald. Team Europe had consistently won its matches, with the majority of the matches being close between the two teams, but ultimately won 15–13. Europe had taken the lead early on, with them just barely clinching the tournament after the Singles on Sunday. Players such as Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, and Rory McIlroy played exceptionally well to lead Team Europe to victory. This was the closest Ryder Cup victory since 2012, when Europe won by one point. Europe has proven itself in the 2000s, winning five of the last 10 Ryder Cups in America. Although the matches were well played, the crowd’s conduct at Bethpage Black in Long Island was unhinged. Rory McIlroy, a European player, particularly faced numerous accounts of verbal abuse, as well as his wife, regarding personal information and his golf career. The crowd started chants such as “F— you, Rory,” and poured beer on his wife. Even the MC was leading some of these chants, which subjected the PGA to a lot of criticism. The CEO of the PGA later apologized for the crowd’s conduct, since it was extremely impolite. Security had to be increased to the point where state troopers were involved in crowd control. The Ryder Cup is known to be very competitive and energetic. It’s a highly partisan event and a patriotic one for Americans, and it’s common for American fans to heckle the European players. There is always a competitive atmosphere, but this year, the line was drawn; it went past competitiveness and became personal and unprofessional. Fans were ejected from the tournament, and the MC, Heather McMahan, forcibly resigned after leading the aggressive chants. Although most of the spectators were well-behaved and were able to appreciate some of the highest levels of golf globally, the disrespectful behavior of the crowd overshadows the excellent performances of the players.