The 2020 Ryder Cup is in serious jeopardy. The fate of the matches planned for September at Whistling Straits will be decided in the next few weeks.
So said United States Ryder Cup Captain Steve Stricker.
“So far we’re planning it as a go, like we’re going to have it,” Stricker said this week. “But there’s some obstacles that we’re going to have to face, I think. The confidence of the people and the corporate people. It’s going to come down to probably the safety. And who knows, right?
The decision is forthcoming because, well, if they are going to play the matches, the wheels need to start turning shortly.
“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 pointed out.
The matches have become a point of contention with suggestions they be staged without fans.
World’s No. 1 Rory McIlroy has weighed in on it and without fans, Rory’s a firm “no” as far as his vote goes.
He went a little farther earlier this week with his thoughts:
“My personal hunch is that I don’t see how it is going to happen, so I do not think that it will happen. I think the majority of players would like to see it pushed back until 2021 so that they can play in front of crowds and 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.”
So make that an emphatic “no” for Rory.
Captain Stricker isn’t on board with no fans either and he knows his home-state golf fans.
Stricker said playing without the vocal Cheeseheads at Whistling Straits would be a “yawner of an event” and a “crime” to Wisconsin fans.
American star Brooks Koepka casts his vote with Rory.
Koepka went on the record to say:
“I personally don’t want to play if there’s no fans. I don’t see a point in playing it. I get representing your country is an honor and it’s something that’s so much fun, but at the same time, the fans make that event. That’s why we get nervous on the first tee. You hear the chants. You hear everything that’s going on – the U-S-A- chant, all that stuff. That’s what makes it fun.”
One huge problem in moving the Ryder Cup to 2021 is the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour stages those lopsided Presidents Cup matches but they also mean big bucks for the greedy Sheriff Of Nottingham (aka tour commish Jay Monahan) and his Sinister Band Of Henchmen.
A 2021 Ryder Cup might necessitate a cancellation of The Presidents Cup. Keep in mind the Olympic Games (with golf included) have been rescheduled for summer of 2021.
Stricker said the Tour and the PGA Of America would have to work things out.
“That would be up to the PGA of America and the PGA Tour to hash that out,” Stricker said. “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.”
Calls us in a couple of weeks Stricksie.
Please.
8 Comments
baxter cepeda
As I have been arguing, no one wants a Ryder Cup with no fans. But as sports orgs mainly justify their returns because people need entertainment; it would make sense to run the most entertaining events.
Should the nba call off the playoffs? Of course not.
Tokyo is concerned today the Olympics may need to run with less fans next Summer; millions of tickets in limbo. Should they just call the Olympics off? Of course not.
This is exactly what McGinley meant by it seeming ‘pompous’ for players to refuse to play.
Regardless of the fans It’s just the wrong message to play for money but not for country. We have been through this with golf.
What I would love to hear from the pga of America is that it will do everything it can to allow as many Wisconsin residents in as possible; as well as players family, friends and posses.
They need to warn of limiting out of state fans but assure there will be local people there.
Players need to be ready to compromise. This more than any other event in golf is just too perfect a distraction not to go forward during these times.
I would be very disappointed if the players boycott the event. I’m still having a hard time forgiving guys for skipping Rio. This would be worse because they are willing to travel for personal gain but not for country; citing the lack of fans they would disappoint by not playing. Wierd. Imo.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: can’t compare to a league’s championship; The Ryder Cup is and remains an exhibition….I’m with Stricker, Rory, Brooks, Monty and everyone else who believes you shouldn’t play without fans….
baxter cepeda
After the last 2 special events I’m increasingly excited about golf events with no build up and no fans. There’s something cool about it.
That being said there’s a good chance there will be enough people at Whistling Straits to satisfy the golf boys.
The part I don’t understand is how would they postpone this Ryder cup? When would they run it ? It seems almost impossible with all the events next year.
Tom Edrington
Easy: Presidents Cup gets cancelled….lousy exhibition anyway.
baxter cepeda
By canceling the presidents cup you are definitely hurting the pga tours bottom line, so how realistic is that? …Especially for you Tom.
If the Ryder cup Gets cancelled or postponed, programs like DcP and pga jr league may suffer because the pga of America runs them all.
Jr league can already be a bit pricey at some locales; it has significantly varying costs; not consistent league by league or even team by team.
Anyhow, This is Increasingly a non issue. Jacks Memorial will have fans. So we can assume Wisconsin’s Ryder Cup will also.
Even with fans I hope they don’t have much of a build up. As that pga tour guy said yesterday on GC I really think these events with no buildup are going to be ‘neat’. I’m often annoyed how much stands affect integrity of the courses.
Whistling Straits would be an awesome place not to use grand stands.
Tom Edrington
Baxter you seem to forget that the PGA Tour has close to $3 billion in revenue flowing through its greedy hands…..the PGA Tour’s bottom line is HEFTY with or without the Presidents Cup; Same for PGA of America; Anyone who owns a major makes shall we say “major dollars” and the PGA WILL be played this year…..keep in mind the “fans” on site is a state-by-state decision…..
baxter cepeda
there’s a good chance there will be enough people at Whistling Straits to satisfy the golf boys.
The part I don’t understand is how would they postpone this Ryder cup? When would they run it ? It seems almost impossible without stepping one someone toes.
Exhibition is just wrong. This is not an exhibition. If this is an exhibition college football is an exhibition. This is a big money event which, yes, pass a lot of croanies pockets but is also provides much needed revenue for a lot of things; pga junior league and DCP to name just a couple.
I don’t know what players get for the team events but I hope players see the importance of getting this event in.
Tom Edrington
I’m with the guys who don’t want a Ryder Cup without fans….simple as that….