Ryder Cup in lockdown over terror fears
French elite forces and missiles to protect event Armed officers will be common sight on course
Elite counter-terrorism special forces and infrared missiles will protect next month’s Ryder Cup after security services insisted on a “ring of steel” around the event.
Officers armed with rifles will be a common sight in the crowds as part of a multi-million-pound police operation which could spiral in cost if presidents Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump attend.
Le Golf National near Paris is expected to have the tightest checks for a Ryder Cup since the aftermath of the Sept 11 attacks in 2001. Then, the Ryder Cup at The Belfry was postponed for a year amid security fears. France remains on a high state of alert following almost four years of regular terrorist outrages, which prompted concern from former Europe captain Tony Jacklin that the Americans might boycott.
The course, which has a spectator capacity of more than 50,000, is less than six miles from the Satory headquarters of the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group. Nearby businesses will be asked to shut down, increasing the feeling of an area in security lockdown.
“There will be a ring of steel, with France’s elite counter-terrorism teams on standby a couple of minutes away,” one Paris security source told The Daily Telegraph. “Everybody coming into the area will be protected on the ground by armed police, while mobile surfaceto-air missiles will be deployed in case of attacks from the air.”
The GIGN is the elite tactical unit of France’s gendarmerie, which specialises in terrorist incidents and protecting VIPS. The RAID (for Search, Assistance, Intervention, Deterrence), the National Police’s equivalent of the GIGN, is also just 10 miles away, in Bievres.
Such units have been at the forefront of the fight against terrorist attacks around the French capital carried out by al-qaeda and Islamic State affiliates.
The GIGN and RAID are equipped with the latest in hi-tech weaponry, while soldiers support- ing them will be able to set up Mistral infrared mobile missile systems. The skies above Le Golf National will be closed to all air traffic, except for registered helicopters and jets landing at the nearby Toussus-le-noble airport.
Ryder Cup organisers and the White House declined to comment when asked whether President Trump, an avid golf fan, might be keen to attend the showpiece, along with his ally President Macron.
Both have confirmed an appearance in Paris for First World War centenary commemorations on Nov 11, but a visit to the open-air golf event would only be announced with a few hours’ notice.
Edward Kitson, the Ryder Cup match director, said: “We prepare for a range of possibilities in terms of visitors to the Ryder Cup, both from the host country and further afield. We cannot give details of planned visits due to security reasons.
“The main priority of Ryder Cup Europe is always to host a safe event. This is reflected in our overall planning, including site access, transport and ticket security. We are working very closely with French government agencies but, understandably, we are not able to explain the detail of our security plans. We continuously collaborate with other global events to ensure our plans are specific and proportionate to the prevailing security conditions, and take into account learnings and insights from other security operations.”
Xavier Kusnierz, the Ryder Cup course project manager, said “in terms of security, we have a welldefined plan”, adding that an appearance by Mr Trump would mean a complete review of all measures, guided by the American secret services.
Spectators arriving for the weekend competition, which is to run from Sept 28-30, will not be allowed to head straight for the course in their vehicles. Instead, there will be free shuttle buses from nearby stations at Saint-quentin-en-yvelines, Montigny and Massy-palaiseau, where there will be searches and metal detectors.
Renault has already planned to close its neighbouring Technocentre – a vast research and development complex – telling some 10,000-plus employees to stay away for the duration of the competition, while other companies are being asked to do the same.
Around £7 million has been spent on renovating Le Golf National, with organisers hoping the event – being held in France for the first time – will cement the country as a golfing power.
Jacklin, the most successful European Ryder Cup captain, is among those who feared that the United States team might refuse to
travel to France because of security threats. He said last summer: “If the Americans decide they don’t want to come and risk getting into danger, what’s the alternative?”
Beyond those turning up in person, it is estimated that 750million people around the world will watch the event on television or online.
Meanwhile Tiger Woods confirmed last night that he will meet Phil Mickelson in an exhibition event – dubbed “The Match” – in Las Vegas on Nov 23 or 24. There is a reported winner-takes-all prize of $10 million (£7.7 million).