Ryder Cup postponed until 2021, Presidents Cup to 2022
The Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup have been postponed until 2021 and 2022, respectively, the PGA of America, Ryder Cup Europe, and the PGA Tour announced Wednesday.
The Ryder Cup was scheduled for Sept. 22-27, 2020, at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, but will now be played Sept. 21-26, 2021.
The Presidents Cup, originally slated for Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, 2021, at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, will now take place Sept. 19-25, 2022.
"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."
European captain Padraig Harrington said in April that the Ryder Cup may need to "take one for the team" and proceed without fans.
However, Rory McIlroy said in May he'd rather the event be postponed than played without spectators.
"The players are the ones that make the Ryder Cup," McIlroy said. "If they are not on board with it and don't want to play then there is no Ryder Cup. I see it being pushed back until 2021, and, honestly, I think that will be the right call."
The Ryder Cup began in 1927 and is played every other year. It was last postponed in 2001 due to the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.