The 2020 Ryder Cup will now be played at Wisconsin’s Whistling Straits in 2021

THE 2020 Ryder Cup will not take place in September and the 2021 Presidents Cup has also rescheduled.

Both events will now be played one year later than originally planned with players on both teams – including Rory McIlroy calling for the biennial match between the USA and Europe to be called off if fans could not attend.

The 43rd Ryder Cup, scheduled for the week of September 22-27 at Whistling Straits, in Kohler, Wisconsin, has been rescheduled for the week of September 21-26, 2021.

The PGA of America, Ryder Cup Europe and the PGA Tour jointly announced the changes this afternoon.

The 2021 Presidents Cup – initially scheduled for September 30-October 3, 2021 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina – will now be played from September 23-25, 2022.

Additionally, as a result of the Presidents Cup date change, the Wells Fargo Championship will be played at its traditional venue at Quail Hollow in 2021 – and at TPC Potomac in 2022, during Presidents Cup year.

Both organisations behind the Ryder Cup agreed that the match should not be played without fans.

The decision to reschedule the Ryder Cup was made based on guidance from the USA’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It was also taken in conjunction with the state of Wisconsin and Sheboygan County – with the health and well-being of all involved as the top priority.

Seth: Decision had to be taken now

PGA of America chief executive Seth Waugh said a decision on calling off September’s Ryder Cup had to be made today – 10 weeks before Europe were due to defend the trophy.

He said: “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.

“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 Commissioner Jay Monahan and our partners at the PGA 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 US 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 last time the Ryder Cup was postponed was after the 9/11 terror attacks on New York. Europe claimed the trophy when it was played at The Belfry a year later in 2002.

Kinnings: Ryder Cup fans’ health comes first

EUROPE’S Ryder Cup director Guy Kinnings was fully behind his American counterparts.

He said: “The Ryder Cup is rightly celebrated as one of the world’s greatest sporting occasions, made special and totally unique in our sport by the fervent atmosphere created by the passionate spectators of both sides.

“While that point is significant, it is not as important as the health of the spectators which, in these difficult times, is always the main consideration.

“We considered all options including playing with a limited attendance. But all our stakeholders agreed this would dilute the magic of this great occasion.

“We therefore stand beside our partners at the PGA of America in the decision to postpone the Ryder Cup for a year, and join with them in extending our thanks to the PGA Tour for their willingness to help by moving the date of the Presidents Cup.”

The last time the Ryder Cup was postponed for 12 months was in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks on New York, with the event moving from 2001 to a year later at The Belfry.

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 new dates are:
2023 Marco Simone Golf and Country Club (Rome, Italy)
2025 Bethpage Black – Farmingdale, New York
2027 Adare Manor – County Limerick, Ireland
2029 Hazeltine National Golf Club – Chaska, Minnesota
2031 Europe TBD
2033 The Olympic Club – San Francisco, California
2035 Europe TBD
2037 Congressional Country Club – Bethesda, Maryland

Presidents Cup will be played at Quail Hollow in 2022

AFTER America’s Presidents Cup win in Melbourne, in December, the 14th Presidents Cup, will now be played for the first time in the Southeast United States at Quail Hollow Club, in 2022.

“These two premier international team events are lifted by the spirit of the fans,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.

“With the uncertainty of the current climate, we fully support the Ryder Cup’s decision to delay a year in order to ensure fans could be a part of the incredible atmosphere in Wisconsin.

“And the delay of this year’s Presidents Cup was the right decision in order to allow for that option.

“We are thankful that our global partners, our friends at Quail Hollow Club and all associated with the Presidents Cup and the Junior Presidents Cup have approached this change with a unified, positive spirit.

“We are confident the move will give us even more runway as we bring the Presidents Cup to Charlotte in 2022.”

PRESIDENTS CUP INFORMATION:
▪ Masters champion Trevor Immelman will be the International Team captain in 2022
▪ The US team captain has yet to be announced
▪ Presidents Cup 2022 qualifying will be determined in discussions with the captains and tournament leadership at a later date
▪ Subsequent events have also been postponed for a year
▪ 2024 – International location – TBD
▪ 2026 – TPC Harding Park – San Francisco, California
For more information visit PresidentsCup.com

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The first glimpses of the new holes being built at Italy’s Marco Simone Golf & Country Club on the outskirts of Rome, which will host the 2022 Ryder Cup from September 30-October 2.

THE 2022 Ryder Cup will take place at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, in Italy, from September 30-October 2, 2022.

It will be the first time the Ryder Cup has been played in Italy, with the country following England, Scotland, Spain, Ireland, Wales and France as European nations to host the biennial contest between Europe and the United States of America.

The dates for the 2022 contest – which include the three build-up days of Tuesday September 27, Wednesday September 28 and Thursday September 29 – were confirmed by Ryder Cup Europe at the start of the Italian Open week, on Monday.

Six players from Europe’s victorious 2018 Ryder Cup Team – Paul Casey, Tyrrell Hatton, Francesco Molinari, Alex Noren, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose – are in the field for the Rolex Series event, alongside the winning 2018 captain Thomas Bjørn and the 2020 European captain Padraig Harrington.

Marco Simone, which is on the outskirts of the Italian capital Rome, is currently undergoing an extensive renovation programme in preparation for hosting golf’s greatest team contest.

These pictures, in addition to a flyover animation of the 10th, 11^th and 16^th holes, offer the first glimpse of what the course will look like when it welcomes some of the world’s leading golfers in three years’ time.

These holes are part of nine constructed since last September and they are now in the growing phase, with the overall project set to enter its second phase this week.

The second phase comprises the construction of the remaining nine holes with work due to be completed by May 2020.

That will allow growing to take place over next summer. Alongside the work to the course, the clubhouse and practice facilities will also be fully refurbished, to allow Marco Simone to host the Italian Open in autumn 2021.

European Golf Design is responsible for the redesign project, creating a world-class golf course inside the ropes, in addition to a purpose-built venue outside the ropes to allow spectators to view The 2022 Ryder Cup from as many natural vantage points as possible.

European Ryder Cup director Guy Kinnings said: “The success of Francesco Molinari at last year’s Ryder Cup, alongside his Open Championship and Race to Dubai victories, has been a huge boost for golf in Italy.

“Interest continues to build and today’s announcement of the dates is another significant milestone in the country’s journey to hosting its first Ryder Cup.”

Gian Paolo Montali, general director of the Ryder Cup 2022 project, said: “Our commitment for the Ryder Cup 2022 project is not only to host an iconic sport event, but also to leave a legacy for Italy and the Italian people.

“With the work being carried out at Marco Simone, the 2022 Ryder Cup course will become a sporting ‘pilgrimage’ site that will continue to attract golfers for many years – and will help develop to economic income through golf tourism.

European Golf Designs and Tom Fazio II have been working on creating a world-class golf course at Marco Simone assisted by the Italian Golf Federation. Pictures by EUROPEAN TOUR

“We are ambitious and these images give fans around the world a taste of what they can expect in September 2022.

“Today marks another important step in our journey towards hosting Italy’s first Ryder Cup with the announcement of the dates, and we must say thank you once again to Franco Chimenti.

“He is the one who had the vision and the courage to bring this fascinating competition to Italy.”

Lavinia Biagiotti, president of Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, said: “We are very proud to be the host venue of the 2022 Ryder Cup, and the announcement of the dates makes today an exciting one for everyone involved at Marco Simone.

“We have been working closely with Ryder Cup Europe and the Italian Golf Federation, along with European Golf Design and Tom Fazio II, to use the natural environment around the millenary tower of the Marco Simone Castle to create a top-class venue designed to host the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s biggest sporting events.”

The impact of the Ryder Cup is also being felt further afield in Italy through the Road to Rome initiative run by the FIG.

Last October, the Road to Rome visited Terrazza dei Cannoni on Castel dell’Ovo in Naples for Golf in the Piazza and a month later, more than 2,500 people visited Città di Lombardia in Milan, where the centrepiece was a putting green inside the Belvedere on the 39th floor of the Palazzo Lombardia.

In February, more than 100 students met the players from Italy’s national teams met at Marco Simone and Golf in the Piazza then visited Parma, with more than 4,000 people attending the event at Piazza Garibaldi.

To launch the Italian Open week, the Ryder Cup visited Villa Borghese for Golf in Piazza for the latest stop on the Road to Rome on Sunday.

And on Wednesday (October 9) the third Junior Road to the 2022 Ryder Cup takes place between two teams of 12 of Italy’s best young players.

The Italian Open takes place this week at Rome’s Olgiata Golf Club. Watch out for more news from the tournament.

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