World No 1 Rory McIlroy is concerned about the possibility of playing this year’s Ryder Cup event behind closed doors.
Earlier this week PGA CEO Seth Waugh indicated that the organisers of the Ryder Cup, which will be held in Wisconsin from 25-27 September, are exploring options of providing fans with the best virtual experience due to the the continued risk of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The response to Waugh’s announcement wasn’t very receptive, with McIlroy taking a stand against the idea of playing the usually hostile event without the presence of any spectators.
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‘I have a pretty strong view on this,’ said the Northern Irishman.
‘I get the financial implications for everyone involved – there’s a lot that goes into putting on the Ryder Cup that people don’t probably know or appreciate – but having a Ryder Cup without fans is not a Ryder Cup.’
The best scenario for McIlroy would be to postpone the Ryder Cup to next year if it means fans will be able to attend it.
‘For me I would much rather they delay it until 2021 than play it at Whistling Straits without fans. And that’s from a European going to America, knowing that I’m going to get abuse.
‘Obviously it would be better for Europeans to play without fans because we wouldn’t have to deal with some of the stuff that you have to put up with – but at the same time it’s not a Ryder Cup.
‘It wouldn’t be a great spectacle, there’d be no atmosphere, so if it came to whether they had to choose between not playing the Ryder Cup or playing it without fans, I would say just delay it for a year and play it in 2021,’ concluded McIlroy.
Team Europe will be out to defend their crown after a famous victory over Team USA in Paris in 2018.
