Stricker: Ryder Cup without fans would be ‘yawner’
U.S. captain Steve Stricker said this week a decision on the 2020 Ryder Cup scheduled for Sept. 25-27 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin will be made in the “next two to three weeks.”
The biennial bout between the USA and Europe faces numerous obstacles created by the COVID-19 pandemic. It could be held as currently planned, could be held without spectators, or postponed until next year.
“We’re sure hoping we can play it,” Stricker said on “The Golf Affect,” a weekly Madison-based radio show where he is a regular participant. “So far we’re planning as it’s a go, that we’re going to have it.”
He just hopes it doesn’t happen without fans.
“Personally, I would hate for that to happen,” Stricker said. “I mean, this event is made by the fans. To me, if it was without the fans it almost would be a yawner of an event. The passion, I don’t know if it would be there.
“The fans create all that unbelievable atmosphere that we play in front of. And without the fans, I don’t know. It still would be a nice event, but I think the fans make it everything. And to cheat out the fans of Wisconsin, I think would be a crime. So, I just hope that when we do have it, it can be up to its full potential.”
But time is of essence right now, because Stricker said construction of the infrastructure at Whistling Straits hard by Lake Michigan would have to start pretty quickly if the event is held in September.
“They’re going to have to make a decision here probably within the next two or three weeks because the buildup to put up all the stands and all the corporate tents, all that kind of stuff, has to happen in June,” Stricker said. “So, you’ve got to kind of look into a crystal ball and no one knows, really, no one knows what’s going to happen. It’s a wait-and-see for me, but we’re going ahead with planning as it’s going to happen, and hopefully it does.”
One option on the table to 2021.
“I think they would just push everything back. That’s what happened at 911. When it happened back in 2001, they canceled that year’s Ryder Cup and moved it to 2002, and that’s how we got on the even years for having the Ryder Cup,” Stricker said. “That would be up to the PGA of America and the PGA Tour to hash that out. I’m sure Jay Monahan, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, isn’t
is to postpone so keen on the push back of the Presidents Cup. They rely on the money they generate for that event. I don’t know if we could have two events in one year.
“You know, have the Ryder Cup in June. It’s also an Olympic year next year so I think there’s just so much going on and there’s so much movement and fluidity that no one can really make an informed decision at this time.”
Stricker is going to have to make a personal decision of his own in the next few weeks. He has a spot in next week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. That’s the scheduled restart of the PGA
Tour season, which came to a halt March 13 because of the coronavirus.
Stricker remains on the fence on whether or not he’s heading to Texas.
“We’ve been very cautious as a family,” he said. “My oldest daughter (Bobbi) has an autoimmune issue. So we’re a little bit more cautious than everybody else. The grandparents are still alive and we don’t want to be bringing (the virus) to any of them. So we go out and get our groceries and that’s about it.
“We’ll have a few driveway dinners with friends, but I haven’t been in anybody’s house, nor has anybody been in our house. We’ve taken it pretty seriously and we’ve been very cautious.
“I want to go play next week. I’m just struggling if that’s the right thing to do or not. There’s a lot of things. You know, taking a spot away from somebody else. There’s kids that could play instead of me. For me it would be about going out and seeing the guys on the Ryder Cup team and trying to play well. I’m still excited to play. But I’ve had a run and a good time of playing and my time has been. So, do I take that spot? Do I go and play or do I give it up? So those are the things that I’m constantly thinking over and trying to come up with the right decision.”