The Ryder Cup has been postponed one year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 43rd annual Ryder Cup 2021 Live Stream golf tournament was scheduled for Sept. 22-27 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis. It has been rescheduled for Sept. 21-26, 2021.
The decision was made based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in conjunction with the state of Wisconsin and Sheboygan County. Unlike other major sporting events that are played in existing stadiums, we had to make a decision now about building facilities to host the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh.
“It became clear that as of today, our medical experts and the public authorities in Wisconsin could not give us certainty that conducting an event responsibly with thousands of spectators in September would be possible. Given that uncertainty, we knew rescheduling was the right call. We are grateful to PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan and our partners at the TOUR for their flexibility and generosity in the complex task of shifting the global golf calendar.”
As disappointing as this is, our mandate to do all we can to safeguard public health is what matters most. 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. We stand united with our partners from Ryder Cup Europe, the NBC Sports Group, Sky and our other broadcast partners around the world. We look forward to delivering the Ryder Cup’s renowned pageantry, emotion and competitive drama to a global audience in 2021.”
The Ryder Cup brings together elite golfers from the United States and Europe. The PGA of America will contact people who have purchased tickets through the Ryder Cup website for refunds for those who cannot attend in 2021. Those who purchased tickets on the secondary market will need to contact that site about refunds. The PGA cannot offer refunds for secondary sites.
The PGA of America and European Tour are expected to make the announcement on Wednesday. This move had been speculated for months, as more and more players said they didn’t want to play if fans were not allowed, which seemed very likely. Fans make the Ryder Cup the event what it is, with raucous crowds making for an electric atmosphere unlike other golf events.
With the Ryder Cup moving to 2021, the Presidents Cup – a similar event featuring the United States against a non-European international team – will move to 2022, and they will alternate from there. Confirmation that the Ryder Cup, due to be held in September at Whistling Straits, will be postponed until 2021 is expected next week. The PGA of America has announced the first major of the year, the US PGA Championship, will be held in early August without spectators.
Talks between the PGA of America and the European Tour, who preside jointly over the Ryder Cup, and local government officials in Wisconsin are now close to completion despite a public line of “no change” to existing arrangements. Work on the spectator build at Whistling Straits, ordinarily well under way by now, is not believed to have meaningfully started.
With health and safety concerns to the fore – playing the biennial competition without spectators has never been a serious option – postponement is now seen as the most responsible solution. As recently as last month hopes had been raised that the Ryder Cup could take place. The relevant parties have considered the US and Europe facing off in front of reduced numbers, with around 25,000 per day mooted, but that is not now thought viable amid coronavirus concerns. Ongoing travel restrictions – such as quarantine – are also a factor.
