Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits scheduled for September is postponed a year because of COVID-19

WHISTLING STRAITS has to wait a year to host the Ryder Cup. – Photo by PGA of America

The Ryder Cup has been postponed for a year, and two high school golf coaches agree that is better than holding it without fans this fall.

“I’m actually glad they delayed it a year to hopefully have fans at Whistling,” North’s Craig Walters said. “The Ryder Cup is not the same without fans pumping up the players.”

On Wednesday, the PGA of America, Ryder Cup Europe and the PGA TOUR jointly announced that both the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup have been rescheduled and will now be played one year later than originally planned.

The 43rd Ryder Cup, scheduled for Sept. 22-27 at Whistling Straits, has been rescheduled for Sept. 21-26, 2021.

Likewise, the Presidents Cup, initially slated for Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2021, in Charlotte will now be played Sept. 19-25, 2022.

Lutheran coach Larry Kettle thinks it is a pretty good idea.

“I hate to see the Ryder Cup played without fans and this will give the Ryder Cup the chance to have the largest amount of fans available, and make it the greatest event that it can be,” he said.

The decision to reschedule the Ryder Cup was based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in conjunction with the state of Wisconsin and Sheboygan County, with the health and well-being of all involved as the top priority.

“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 in a press release. “It became clear that as of (Wednesday), 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.”

With the decision to play the 2020 Ryder Cup in September 2021, all subsequent Ryder Cups after Whistling Straits will also shift to odd years.

The Ryder Cup, which began in 1927, brings together the finest tour professionals from the United States and Europe.

“While it is disappointing that the Ryder Cup won’t be played this year, the decision to reschedule is the right thing to do under the circumstances,” said U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Steve Stricker in the release. “At the end of the day, we want to stage a Ryder Cup that will rival all other Ryder Cups in my home state of Wisconsin, and now we have the opportunity to showcase the event as it was meant to be seen.”

For Ryder Cup qualifying, both the United States and European teams will revisit their respective selection processes in the near future.

Tickets purchased for the 2020 Ryder Cup via rydercup.com will be automatically valid for the corresponding day(s) in 2021.

In the coming weeks, the PGA of America will contact those who secured tickets via rydercup.com to facilitate refunds for those unable to attend in 2021.

Further details regarding this process are available on the Ryder Cup website.

Those who have purchased tickets and hospitality packages on the secondary market must contact that specific site directly.

The PGA of America will be unable to process refunds for those purchases.

In a corresponding decision, the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe also announced that the Junior Ryder Cup will be rescheduled for Sept. 20-21, 2021 at Blue Mound Golf & Country Club in Wauwatosa. It was originally scheduled for Sept. 21-22.