McIlroy predicts the Ryder Cup will not go ahead this year
World number one Rory McIlroy does not think the Ryder Cup will be played this year.
It is currently scheduled to be played September 25-27 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, where Europe will be looking to retain the trophy they won in 2018. But a host of major 2020 sporting events have already been cancelled due to coronavirus and McIlroy thinks the Ryder Cup will suffer the same fate.
"My personal hunch is that I don't see how it is going to happen, so I do not think that it will happen," McIlroy said.
"I think the majority of players would like to see it pushed back until 2021 so that they can play in front of crowd sand have the atmosphere that makes the Ryder Cup so special.
"The players are the ones that make the Ryder Cup. If they are not on board with it and don't want to play then there is no Ryder Cup.
"I see it being pushed back until 2021 and, honestly, I think that will be the right call."
The PGA Tour is set to resume on June 11, with McIlroy already confirming he will play the first three dates. The 31-year-old also said he would have no issues returning to the European Tour later in the year.
"It' s a tough one. There area lot of things up in the air, but if there are some big events in autumntime, then Ican,"McIl roy said ." Maybe if Went worth gets moved to October, which they are thinking of, then I could see myself going over and playing that event. I was just as disappointed as everyone else that the Open got cancelled this year. I think it would have been a good date in September if we were able to play it. I wouldn't have concerns about travelling to Europe. I think if you stick to the guidelines then I don't see any reason why we should feel scared to travel."
The postponed 2020 Irish Open was due to take place this week at Mount Juliet Estate, with a possible rescheduled date in autumn being con side red. McIlroy, did not play in last year's event at Lahinch, said he is unsure if he will take part in this year's tournament if it goes ahead.
"I don't know, I really don't know ," he continued ." I haven' t looked past the P GA Tour play offs[ scheduled for September ]. All I have pinpointed for the back end of the year at the minute are the majors, everything else is really up in the air.
"I would like to see the Irish Open played but I imagine if it was then it would be behind closed doors, meaning the public would not get to see the big names compete."