The Ryder Cup, a bi-annual event pitting the best golfers in the world against each other in sometimes legendary competition, has had many historic battles since the first event in 1927. Stars of the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland have represented their regions with pride.

Bethpage Black was under a weather warning early Sept. 25, receiving about an inch of rain by 9 a.m., including several heavy downpours.

The US will open Friday with Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas against Europe’s fiery Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton at what should be a rowdy Bethpage Black.

Don’t sweat the small stuff, they say, but in the Ryder Cup it’s the smallest things that could make the biggest difference.

Luke Donald tried, though, as Rory McIlroy revealed earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Ryder Cup, which begins Friday at Bethpage Black on Long Island, Donald, the European team captain, gave his players VR headsets that simulated the expected crowd noise while visualizing playing at Bethpage.

The U.S. has taken a 10-8 lead over Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup, with Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach going 1-1-1 in doubles.

One of the world’s greatest sporting events is set to kick off on Long Island. Top-tier golfers will go head-to-head at the Ryder Cup on Bethpage Black. And with hundreds of thousands of fans expected to swarm the area, expect road closures and major traffic delays. NBC New York’s Pei-Sze Cheng reports.

Hovland, 27, is making his third Ryder Cup appearance. In Rome, he teamed with Ludvig Aberg for a 9-and-7 romp in a foursomes match over Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Keopka. Aberg on Wednesday said he’d enjoy partnering with Hovland again this week, noting that he has a habit of talking about interesting topics such as UFOs.