Steve Stricker says it would be a ‘yawner’ if fans can’t go to Ryder Cup

US captain voices concerns about prospect of tournament being played behind closed doors

US captain Steve Stricker says fans will feel cheated if the Ryder Cup is played behind closed doors in his home state of Wisconsin in September. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Steve Stricker, the US captain, has admitted it would be “a crime” if the Ryder Cup is played in his home state of Wisconsin in September behind closed doors.

A decision is set to be made this month by the PGA of America and the European Tour about the match at Whistling Straits, which sits an hour north of Milwaukee.

European captain Padraig Harrington has said players may “have to take one for the team” by playing the match without fans due to coronavirus fears.

However, Stricker has voiced his concern about that happening in a radio interview, saying: “This event is made by the fans. If it was without fans, it almost would be a yawner of an event. To cheat out the Wisconsin fans would be a crime. I hope when we do have it, it can be up to its full potential.”

Speaking to Golf Affect Radio, he added: “So far, we’re planning it as it’s a go, like we’re going to have it, but there’s some obstacles that we’re going to have to face. The confidence of the people and the corporate people. It’s going to come down to probably the safety. And who knows, right?”

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has confirmed an announcement will be made in the coming weeks, telling the McKellar Golf podcast: “We will have the conversations now and we will have a direction by the end of the month.”

* The Official World Golf Ranking will restart next week when the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour hold official events in the US for the first time in three months.

The decision is set to hit European players due to the fact the majority of them will not be able to start picking up points until the European Tour restarts on 22 July.

* Carly Booth is set to feature in a line-up that also includes Tommy Fleetwood, Thomas Bjorn and Paul McGinley in the Paddy Power Golf Shootout on Friday. Being billed as “top-level sport returning to the UK”, it will involve a series of skills challenges behind closed doors at The Centurion Club, near St Albans.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director