Holding off Ryder Cup for a year ‘the right thing to do’
The 2020 Ryder Cup was officially postponed for one year on Wednesday and the Presidents Cup has been moved to 2022.
In a joint statement, officials said the decision to postpone and shuffle the schedule “was based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in conjunction with the state of Wisconsin and Sheboygan County, with the health and well-being of all involved as the top priority.”
The 43rd Ryder Cup, scheduled for Sept. 22-27, at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis., has been rescheduled for Sept. 2126, 2021.
The Presidents Cup, initially slated for Sept. 30- Oct. 3, 2021, at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., will now be played Sept. 19-25, 2022.
Growing sentiment from players on either side of the international competition was to delay the Ryder Cup if it couldn’t be held in front of the often raucous fans that help create a one-of-a-kind team golf environment.
“This is a really good solution for players,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said during a video conference on Wednesday.
PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh said many possibilities, including holding the event at 25 per cent capacity with a set allotment of international team fan tickets, were plotted and reviewed before Wednesday’s announcement.
“All we’ve been able to do is make a decision that’s right for now,” Ryder Cup CEO Guy Kinnings said Wednesday.
“As we’ve shown, we’ve managed to find a way by working together. We’ll try to do the same, whatever happens in the future.”
Kinnings said the delay can be spun as a positive and will allow the Ryder Cup to put on better events.
Officials said Wednesday the worldwide demand to attend the Ryder Cup is “enormous” and protocols are established for allowing current ticket holders to roll their tickets to next year.
Fans who want refunds for any reason will be granted their request. Those tickets will be sold unless social distancing protocols mandate smaller galleries.
“We think this is the right thing to do,” Waugh said. “I would bet on science is what I would say about the ability to figure out treatments slash vaccines for safety. Frankly there is no guarantee ... I think at the end of the day, this is the best possible decision.
“Frankly, if we do get to this time next year and we can’t responsibly hold it, it would likely lead to cancellation. That’s not fair to the game, not fair to the Presidents Cup, or anyone else.”
Moving the Whistling Straits Ryder Cup to next year creates a trickle down to shift subsequent events to odd years: 2023/Marco Simone Golf and Country Club (Rome, Italy); 2025/Bethpage Black (Farmingdale, N.Y.); 2027/ Adare Manor (County Limerick, Ireland); 2029/Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, Minn.); 2031/Europe (to be determined); 2033/The Olympic Club (San Francisco); 2035/ Europe (to be determined); 2037/Congressional Country Club (Bethesda, Md.).