Don’t shut the door on the fans says Ryder Cup skipper Harrington

EUROPE captain Padraig Harrington says he and USA counterpart Steve Stricker are not in favour of the Ryder Cup being played behind closed doors.

The biennial competition is, for the moment at least, scheduled to go ahead in September at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

Talks have reportedly taken place over holding the competition behind closed doors, plans which are said to have faced opposition from players who believe the event relies on the atmosphere generated by spectators.

Harrington says there is a consensus that there is no need at this stage to make any decision on whether it is played with or without fans.

“In another two months we will know a lot more,” Harrington said.

“There’s been some talk about playing it behind closed doors. The general feeling i s that nobody wants to play behind closed doors, it wouldn’t be a normal Ryder Cup.

“But nobody feels they need to make that decision at the moment.

“For me and Steve (Stricker), neither of us would like a situation where the fans don’t turn up.”

The PGA Tour is set to resume in June with the first four events to be staged behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, former Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn has been appointed to the European Tour board as a non-executive director.

The 49-year-old, currently playing his 25th season on the European Tour, was nominated to the position by t he tour’s Tournament Committee.

Bjorn has 15 European Tour titles to his name and led Europe to victory in the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in 2018.

“I am delighted and honoured,” Bjorn said.

Europe captain Padraig Harrington.