Ryder Cup with no fans is a ‘yawn’ for US skipper Stricker

AMERICAN Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker thinks it would be ‘a crime’ to play the Ryder Cup without fans in September and would lead to a ‘yawner of an event’.

It is the first time the skipper has made his views known and he certainly can’t be accused of sitting on the fence.

Stricker, who has lived all his life in the state of Wisconsin where the match is due to be played at Whistling Straits later this year, told a local radio station: ‘To cheat out the Wisconsin fans, I think, would be a crime. This event is made by the fans.

‘To me, if it was without fans, it would be a yawner. I just hope that when we do have it, that it can be up to its full potential.’

A final decision on whether to play or postpone for a year will be made later this month and Stricker insisted he has been planning as if it is going ahead.

‘We’re thinking it as a go right now but there’s some obstacles we’re going to have to face, like the confidence of the fans and the corporate sector,’ he said. ‘It’s probably going to come down to the safety.’

Rory McIlroy has made similar comments in recent weeks, suggesting ‘the majority’ of players would much prefer to delay their involvement than go ahead in a sterile environment.

Stricker said a decision will need to be made in the coming weeks, adding: ‘They are going to have to make a decision here, probably within the next two or three weeks.

‘The build-up to put up all the stands and all the corporate tents, all that kind of stuff, has to happen in June.’