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The hotly-contested biennial team competition
between the United States and Europe, known for its raucous,
partisan crowds, was originally scheduled for Sept. 25-27 at
Whistling Straits. It will now be held Sept. 24-26, 2021.
The Presidents Cup, which pits a 12-man team from the U.S.
against international players from outside Europe, was also
postponed a year and will played Sept. 22-25, 2022 at Quail
Hollow Club in North Carolina, organisers said.
Organisers said medical experts and public authorities in
Wisconsin were not able to provide certainty that conducting an
event responsibly with thousands of spectators in September
would be possible.
"As disappointing as this is, our mandate to do all we can to
safeguard public health is what matters most," PGA of America
Chief Executive Seth Waugh said in a statement.
"The spectators who support both the U.S. and European sides are
what make the Ryder Cup such a unique and compelling event and
playing without them was not a realistic option."
The Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup are the latest events on a
ravaged golf calendar to be hit by the coronavirus outbreak,
which already forced three of the sport's four majors to be
postponed while the British Open was cancelled.
"These two premier international team events are lifted by the
spirit of the fans," said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.
"With the uncertainty of the current climate, we fully support
the Ryder Cup's decision to delay a year in order to ensure fans
could be a part of the incredible atmosphere in Wisconsin, and
the delay of next year's Presidents Cup was the right decision
in order to allow for that option."
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Christian
Radnedge)
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