Ryder Cup will be played in 2021
Lack of fans was part of decision to postpone
The Ryder Cup just doesn't work without fans.
What seemed inevitable finally became official Wednesday when the PGA of America and the European Tour announced that the event scheduled for Whistling Straits in
Haven on Sept. 22-27 will be postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The popular, biennial competition between golfers from the United States and Europe has been rescheduled for Sept. 21-26, 2021, at the course on the shores of Lake Michigan.
PGA of America chief executive officer Seth Waugh said he consulted with many people in Wisconsin, including Gov. Tony Evers and Green Bay Packers CEO and president Mark Murphy, to figure out how to make the Ryder Cup work.
"It became clear a month ago that
Businesses are hurt, but would much rather have fans,
40,000 fans a day really had very little chance to be practical," Waugh said. "So then we explored the possibility of reduced fans, call it 10,000 or so ... it really came back to the conclusion that there was zero certainty that we could do it with fans. And really a huge, high degree of risk that local authorities were uncomfortable with even that concept."
Add the Ryder Cup to a series of highprofile events in the Milwaukee area that have been disrupted due to the ongoing pandemic. The Milwaukee Bucks will be trying to march through the NBA playoffs at Disney World outside of Orlando instead of playing home games at Fiserv Forum. The Democratic National Convention was postponed from July to August and has been dramatically scaled back.
The PGA Tour resumed its season last month without fans, but the Ryder Cup is an event that feeds off spectators. Fans from all corners of the world attend and make for a raucous environment. Tightly packed throngs follow the golfers from hole to hole.
That just doesn't work in the coronavirus-affected world of 2020.
"A Ryder Cup without fans is not a Ryder Cup," Waugh said.
Here are a few key questions about the postponement:
What does this mean for Whistling Straits?
Whistling Straits, which is owned and operated by Kohler Co., was awarded the Ryder Cup in 2005 and there has been hype building for 15 years.
But the course seemed to know where things were heading. A site visit by the Journal Sentinel in late June pointed to no new construction on the course like grandstands and chalets that are common with large golf competitions.
"We are continuing to work closely with the PGA of America and our community on thoughtful planning and preparations to provide a safe and unforgettable Ryder Cup in 2021," Kohler Co. said in a statement. "Our host committee and staff have worked diligently to prepare, and we are motivated to ensure a seamless experience for all involved."
Waugh felt it was important to keep the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.
"Frankly, at one point we offered them an opportunity to step out of the contract if they wanted to, given the risks involved," he said. "They are fully committed, fully excited about this.
"We think it's an amazing venue. We've had a team in place there for two years now. They're all going to spend another year in Sheboygan, which they're excited about. We just couldn't ask for better partners."
What about tickets already purchased?
Thousands of tickets for the 2020 Ryder Cup have already been purchased. Waugh said anyone with a ticket can roll it into next year's event or fans can also seek refunds.
What was Steve Stricker's reaction?
Edgerton native and Madison resident Steve Stricker, one of the state's all-time best golfers, was named captain of the United States team in 2019.
A 12-time winner on the PGA Tour and three-time winner on the Champions Tour, the 53-year-old Stricker called his appointment "a dream come true."
"It's a home game for him in Wisconsin," Waugh said. "He wants to have it the way he's always dreamed of and it wasn't going to look like that."
What does this do to the Ryder Cup schedule?
The Ryder Cup takes the place of the Presidents Cup on the 2021 calendar, pushing the other international competition until 2022.
The next Ryder Cup, scheduled for Rome in 2022, will be pushed back until 2023.
Who will be on the 2021 Ryder Cup teams?
The European Tour announced that its qualification process for the Ryder Cup will be frozen until January. Waugh said the PGA of America is still figuring out the process for the U.S. team.
What if I planned to volunteer at the Ryder Cup?
Volunteers should receive an email about their options for next year, according to a Ryder Cup spokesperson. If volunteers have any questions, they can email 2020rydercup@pgahq.com.
What about the Junior Ryder Cup?
The event for golfers 18 and under has also rescheduled. It will be Sept. 20 and 21, 2021, at Blue Mound Golf & Country Club in Wauwatosa. It was originally slated for Sept. 21 and 22.
Will fans be allowed at Whistling Straits in 2021?
That's the big question and the coronavirus has made predictions about sporting events impossible.
"I would bet on science," Waugh said. "About the ability to figure out treatments, vaccines or protocols for safety. Given that we have 15 months to do that.
"But, frankly, there is no guarantee. I certainly wouldn't have thought on March 1, certainly January 1, that we'd be having this conversation right now."
And if the virus is still raging next summer?
"If we do get to this time next year and we can't responsibly hold it, then it likely will result in a cancellation at that point," Waugh said. "I don't think we can perpetually roll things forward."