Ryder Cup competition remains scheduled
PGA shoots down report of postponement
In a concise, sharp statement issued via Twitter on Tuesday evening, the PGA of America shot down a report from The London Telegraph that the Ryder Cup was on its way to being pushed into next year due to a host of schedule changes in the golfing world caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The report stated the biannual competition, set for the week of Sept. 21 at Whistling Straits near Sheboygan, would be postponed in two weeks following meetings in Europe.
“Reports today that the 2020 @RyderCup is expected to be postponed are inaccurate,” the tweet from the PGA of America said.
There were no additional comments from the PGA of America or Kohler Co., owner of Whistling Straits.
As is stands, the Ryder Cup is set to take place three weeks after the conclusion of the PGA Tour schedule on Aug. 30.
As the coronavirus pandemic has spread globally, golf ’s governing bodies have reacted by following World Health Organization and Centers for Disease
Control recommendations by postponing or outright canceling events through early May.
The Masters (April 9-12) has been postponed as has the PGA Championship (May 14-17). Make up dates for those major championships have yet to be determined.
The PGA Tour has canceled eight tournaments through May 10.
When reached by the Journal Sentinel for comment on further cancellations or postponements that could affect the status of the Ryder Cup, the United States Golf Association and PGA Tour stood by earlier statements and schedule changes.
The USGA has not yet moved the U.S. Open off its date of June 18-21 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York.
“At this time, it is premature to speculate what might occur with other 2020 USGA championships,” the USGA said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor all available guidance and regulations from the CDC, WHO and other federal, state and local authorities to do what is in the best interests of our community. We appreciate everyone's understanding and support during these unprecedented times.”
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club has not moved The Open Championship off its date of July 16-19 at Royal St. George's in England.
The International Olympic Committee has also not moved golf off its calendar, slated for July 30-August 8 in Tokyo.
The PGA Tour has adopted a wraparound competitive calendar, so the 2021-22 season would begin after the Ryder Cup and it is unlikely canceled events would be stacked at the end of the year to create a cluster of conflicting tournaments.
The Ryder Cup was last pushed off its competitive calendar in 2001 when the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 in New York City and elsewhere occurred 17 days before the scheduled competition in England.
The event, which brings together the best golfers of the United States against the best of Europe on a biannual basis, was last held in the United States at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota in 2016. It has never been played in Wisconsin.
The Ryder Cup was expected to bring $135 million to the region, according to an August interview with David Kohler, president and CEO of Kohler Co.
Organizers of the event estimated that about 50,000 people a day would come to Whistling Straits during the tournament, with tickets selling out online in hours and drawing registrations from all 50 states and 120 countries.
Developments across the county were underway to prepare for the event — including multiple new hotels and a U.S. customs facility at the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport.