Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart – who is now one of Sky Sports top golf pundits – thinks the 2020 Ryder Cup must go ahead – even if fans are banned because of the COVID-19 crisis

EX-Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart warned Europe’s top players they must play against the USA at Whistling Straits in September – because there is no guarantee the COVID-19 crisis could be over in another 12 months’ time.

So even if fans are barred from watching Padraig Harrington’s Europeean team go head to head with Steve Stricker’s American team at the Wisconsisn course, which hosted the USPGA Championship twice between 2004 and 2010, the Scot thinks the 2020 Ryder Cup must be played.

Coltart told Sky Sports Golf viewers: “Thomas Bjorn made a good point that we don’t know where we’re going to be in 12 months.

“We don’t know whether the vaccine is going to be effective or whether they’re going to have a vaccine.

“If the event has to be suspended again because of another spike… goodness me, the economic fallout of that could be catastrophic.”

It means Coltart is in the camp with Ryder Cup captains Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington who have called for the event to go ahead.

Meanwhile Ian Woosnam, the winning captain in Dublin in 2006, has said the Ryder Cup without fans in September would be a disaster.

Coltart’s view that the biennial contest – which has been won by Europe in seven of the last stagings since 2002, the last time the event was rescheduled following the 9/11 terrorist attack on New Year – is not universally popular with the prospective members.

The famous Ryder Cup trophy at Whistling Straits, in Wisconsin – the venue for 2020

Coltart: 2020 will go down in history

RORY McIlroy has led European calls for the event to be postponed – if fans are not going to be allowed at Whistling Straits.

Earlier this month, McIlroy was asked if he would consider refusing to play in a Ryder Cup without fans.

The World No. 1 said he would prefer the tournament to be played in 2021 – if it is not safe for fans to attend because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: “Look, I love the Ryder Cup. But I can’t see it without fans.

“I think there are enough people in the game who don’t want the Ryder Cup to happen without the fans.

“So this year it will be played with the fans if we can do that, or we’ll have to figure out kicking it down the road to a later date.

But Coltart believes the players have an obligation to entertain the millions of golf fans who would watch on TV, in addition to the 40,000 crowds expected on all three days.

It would give fans all around the world something to smile about after all the death and disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think if we can go ahead with it we should go ahead with it,” said Coltart, who made his Ryder Cup debut playing against Tiger Woods in the Sunday singlesat the Battle of Brookline, in 1999.

Coltart added: “I totally accept that won’t be an opinion shared by absolutely everybody.

“But nonetheless I think the world has been through a tumultuous period, a very difficult period for a lot of people.

“Some people have come through unscathed, other people have been nowhere near as fortunate.

“Golf is a great opportunity to heal the world – not just the sporting world – but the world in general.

“And I think the Ryder Cup is a fantastic opportunity for that.

“What better than two continents going at it in the cauldron of the Ryder Cup?

“Yes, there won’t be the fans, but people back home are crying out for some sense of normality – something to help pick their lives up from what has been a very, very difficult time.

“I accept that it won’t be like the Ryder Cups of years gone by.”

Rory McIlroy thinks the 2020 Ryder Cup will be postponed until 2021

Rory: No fans, no Ryder Cup

RORY McIlroy has led European calls for the event to be postponed – if fans are not going to be allowed at Whistling Straits.

McIlroy was asked if he would consider refusing to play in a Ryder Cup without fans, earlier this month.

He said: “Look, I love the Ryder Cup. But I can’t see it without fans.

“I think there are enough people in the game who don’t want the Ryder Cup to happen without the fans.

“So this year it will be played with the fans if we can do that, or we’ll have to figure out kicking it down the road to a later date.”

Coltart was one of two players controversially left out of the fourballs and foursomes on the first two days in Boston by captain Mark James.

The USA stormed back from a 10-6 deficit to win amid incredible scenes.

But they sparked one of the biggest rows in Ryder Cup history with accusations of unsporting behaviour levelled at the US team by captain Mark James.

Coltart accepts that the 2020 Ryder Cup is also certain to stand out in the competition’s history – which dates back to the first unofficial match between two teams representing the USA and Great Britain and Ireland at Wentworth in 1926.

The two-time European Tour winner said: “It will be very difficult for them, as they’ll always be remembered as the players who played in that Ryder Cup, or captained that Ryder Cup.

“But I think there’s maybe an obligation to the world to get that game played and to try and get us back to a sense of normality.”

USA captain Steve Stricker and Europe’s Padraig Harrington have discussed playing the Ryder Cup even if fans are barred in September. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Captains caught on either side of Ryder Cup debate

THE debate over holding the 2020 Ryder Cup with or without fans, in September, has split Tour golfers down the middle.

Senior European Tour figures like past captain Paul McGinley and current captain Padraig Harrington have changed their tune since speculation began with the COVID-19 lockdown in March.

While they spent the last couple of months trying to bang the drum for a fan-less Ryder Cup, McIlroy has been consistent in his stance.

McIlroy said in May: “I think the majority of players would like to see it pushed back until 2021 – so that they can play in front of crowds and have the atmosphere that makes the Ryder Cup so special.

“The players are the ones that make the Ryder Cup. 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.”

Ian Woosnam: Ryder Cup is all about the players

RORY made his debut at Celtic Manor in 2010 and has won 13 out of 24 points so far in five appearances.

He was famously almost late on the tee for his Sunday singles at Medinah in 2012. Rory required a police escort to get to the course after getting confused by the US time zones, while watching TV coverage in his hotel room.

Rory arrived with 12 minutes to spare. He beat Keegan Bradley 2&1 as Jose-Maria Olazabal’s team came back from 10-6 down to win 141/2-131/2.

Woosnam, who played in eight consecutive Ryder Cups, said last week: “For me it would be an absolute disaster.”

The first and only Welshman to win the Masters in 1991, told a ‘Ryder Cup at Home Social’ – alongside Peter Baker and Paul Lawrie – last Friday: “It’s all about the fans – the atmosphere, being there.

“I can understand the corporate side of it – and television. But you have to remember the players are playing for nothing, and it’s all about the players really. Everyone wants to be there.”

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Thomas Levet claimed his first Staysure title in the Farmfoods European Seniors Masters at the Forest of Arden, beating Markus Brier by a shot. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THOMAS Levet won his first Staysure Tour title by carding the lowest round of the final day at the Farmfoods European Senior Masters, at Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club.

The Frenchman, who made his over-50s debut in this event last year, posted a closing four-under par round of 68 to reach 10-under for the tournament hosted by Midlands Ryder Cup star Peter Baker.

That was one shot clear of Austrian Markus Brier, who finished second on nine-under, and two shots clear of Paul Lawrie, Jarmo Sandelin and Ian Woosnam, who shared third place on eight-under.

Levet came out firing and made the turn in four-under, which was how he finished after carding three birdies and three bogeys on the back nine.

But he holed a tricky short par putt on the 18th hole to secure victory at the Coventry course which regularly hosted the British Masters 20 years ago.

“It’s just a pleasure, a pleasure to win,” Levet said. “I’ve been close lately, close to winning. I’ve been playing really well but my putter has not been there at all.

“My long game has been very good and I finally made some putts this week, added Levet, whose first win on English soil came in the 2001 British Masters after the event moved to Woburn after Victor Chandler became the title sponor.

“I started making some putts yesterday and it held up pretty well and I’m pleased because the conditions were really tough.

“To par the last hole here at Forest of Arden, it’s 218 yards into the wind, it’s enormous and I managed to hold my nerve and make par there, so it’s a great feeling,” added Levet.

The 51-year-old – who was on the winning European team at the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills, reached his final total by the time he made the turn and after that, it was a case of keeping his nerve and going back to basics.

Levet, who also lost a play-off in the 2002 Open Championship at Muirfield, revealed: “I knew I was in the lead because I got off to a quick start and was four-under after nine, birdieing eight and nine.

“They were two tough holes and I knew I was in the lead because there is a leaderboard right there. There are no illusions: You see it and you know you are in the lead.

“I tried to keep my nerve and hit the greens. Paul Lawrie was fighting hard and he was holing putts to stay just behind me and he is always dangerous.

“He hit a beautiful shot on 17 but only made birdie and I made a safe par. I knew I had a one-shot lead on 18 and I managed to par it.

“I got an albatross last week in Austria and I won a big bottle of wine and I gave it to Markus Brier – so maybe that’s why I won the tournament.

“I gave him something last week and I wasn’t going to give him the play-off today,” said Levet, who won six times on the European Tour – has last victory was an emotional one at the 2011 French Open at Le Paris National.

On a day of difficult scoring conditions in England, only 12 players posted under-par rounds, including all of those finishing in a tie for third or better, with overnight leader Paul Broadhurst posting a level-par 72 to finish in sixth place.

South Africa’s James Kingston continued his good run of form by picking up his third top 10 in his last four starts by finishing seventh, while Qualifying School graduate José Manuel Carriles achieved the same feat by finishing eighth on five-under.

With victory, Levet moves up to 20th on the Staysure Tour Order of Merit having played only eight events this season, while Broadhurst’s sixth place at Forest of Arden was enough for him to leapfrog José Coceres and Bernhard Langer into second place in the money list.

Final scores:
206 T Levet (Fra) 69 69 68,
207 M Brier (Aut) 68 70 69,
208 P Lawrie (Sco) 69 69 70, J Sandelin (Swe) 68 71 69, I Woosnam (Wal) 70 68 70,
209 P Broadhurst (Eng) 69 68 72,
210 J Kingston (RSA) 71 69 70,
211 J Carriles (Esp) 70 70 71,
212 S Dodd (Wal) 68 71 73,
213 D Shacklady (Eng) 68 71 74, P Baker (Eng) 66 74 73, P Fowler (Aus) 70 68 75, D Olsen (USA) 67 74 72, G Marks (Eng) 71 71 71,
214 M Molina (Arg) 68 70 76, J Lomas (Eng) 72 71 71, C Suneson (Esp) 72 70 72,
215 J Haeggman (Swe) 74 70 71, P Price (Wal) 69 73 73,
216 R Gomez (Arg) 69 72 75, C Williams (RSA) 70 71 75, P Streeter (Eng) 75 68 73, P Wilson (Eng) 76 69 71, A Bossert (Sui) 72 71 73,
217 M Martin (Esp) 75 67 75,
218 T Thelen (USA) 71 75 72, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 72 72 74, G Evans (Eng) 70 68 80, S Tinning (Den) 70 75 73,
219 A Oldcorn (Sco) 74 74 71, M Farry (Fra) 70 72 77, M Mouland (Wal) 75 71 73, D Gilford (Eng) 75 69 75,
220 M Mackenzie (Eng) 71 73 76,
221 S Luna (Esp) 74 71 76,
222 S Brown (Eng) 73 77 72, C Dennis (USA) 75 73 74, P Golding (Eng) 76 68 78, P Eales (Eng) 69 73 80,
223 J Quiros (Esp) 73 73 77, J Coceres (Arg) 75 73 75,
224 J Remesy (Fra) 69 73 82,
227 S Richardson (Eng) 72 77 78,
228 D Smyth (Irl) 76 77 75, P Wesselingh (Eng) 75 73 80,
229 A Sherborne (Eng) 79 77 73, N Job (Eng) 78 79 72,
231 M Reynard (Eng) 78 75 78,
235 S Little (Eng) 76 74 85,
236 G Emerson (Eng) 75 81 80, C Rocca (Ita) 82 77 77, P Walton (Irl) 75 81 80,
247 N Sweet (Eng) 83 83 81,
** M Atlevi (Swe) DQ 0 0,

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Paul Broadhurst is puzzled why he still leading the Farmfoods European Seniors Masters at the Forest of Arden when his ball-striking has been off the boil. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

TWO-time Senior Major Champion Paul Broadhurst heads a star-studded leaderboard at the Farmfoods European Senior Masters on seven-under par after posting a second round of 68, at Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club.

The Englishman carded five birdies, an eagle and three bogeys in his four -under par 68.

The 2016 Senior Open winner leads by one shot from a group of seven players on six-under, including two Major Champions in Paul Lawrie and Ian Woosnam.

Broadhurst, playing in his first Staysure Tour event of the season, outside of the Senior Majors, was somewhat relieved to see his name at the top of the 36-hole leaderboard after admitting he was not at his best at the Coventry course.

“I don’t know whether it’s jet-lag or something, but I just haven’t swung it very well this week,” said Broadhurst, who is attached to Northamptonshire County Golf Club.

“It’s been okay on the practice area but I just haven’t been hitting shots the way I’ve been hitting it recently.

“I fat-chunked two six-irons – on six and nine – 20 yards short of the green and I’ve fat-chunked a three-rescue into 17 and somehow made birdie from it.

“There have been some poor, poor shots but I’ve obviously made some good shots as well and when I’ve hit a good shot, I’ve made birdie off it.

“It’s been a rollercoaster and I’m still leading so obviously I’m pleased,” added Broadhurst, who grew up in Walsall, and won six times on the European Tour between

“I’m not used to leading a tournament and not hitting it particularly well, said the West Midlands golfer, who played in Europe’s infamous 1991 War on the Shore Ryder Cup defeat by the USA at Kiawah Island, in South Carolina – despite not losing either of his two matches.

“Normally, you’re playing pretty well when you’re leading a tournament so tomorrow could be interesting,” added Broadhurst, whose son Sam was on the bag when he won the Seniors’ Claret Jug at Carnoustie.

Broadhurst Junior had a good summer in 2019 reaching the last 32 in the English Amateur Championship at Hankley Common after winning the North East of England Youth Championship last year and three wins at Tennessee’s Lincoln Memorial College in 2018.

With a one-shot lead heading into what is poised to be a dramatic final day on the Staysure Tour, Broadhurst only has one thing on his mind after jetting in from America for this week’s tournament.

“This is what I came back to England for,” added Nuneaton-based Broadhurst. “I didn’t come here to finish third, fourth or fifth, I want to win the tournament.

“I want to win in front of my home fans, my family and my friends.

“With that, I do put myself under a bit more pressure. You want to play well in front of all your pals, because I don’t get that chance very often as I’m playing in America so much.

“Maybe I need to take the pressure off myself and just go out and play.”

The 54-year-old will not be the only one with the trophy in his sights on Sunday, with Lawrie and Woosnam leading a chasing pack of players nicely placed for a title assault on the final day.

Lawrie, the 1999 Open Champion and Woosnam, the 1991 Masters Champion, are joined in a five-way tie for second place on six-under.

On the same mark are Sussex’s Gary Evans, Australia’s six-time Staysure Tour winner Peter Fowler, 2004 Ryder Cup winner Thomas Levet, Argentina’s Mauricio Molina and Austrian Markus Brier, who was tied for the lead with Broadhurst before bogeying his final hole in round two.

Just a stroke further back are Welshman Stephen Dodd, Sweden’s Jarmo Sandelin and Lancashire’s David Shacklady, who has won twice in his last three Staysure Tour appearances.

The final round gets under way at 9.30am, with Broadhurst playing in the final group alongside Evans and Woosnam at 10.50am. For live scoring click here.

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Thomas Levet believes his win at PGA Catalunya in 2009 was the best he played in his European Tour career – he makes just his fourth start on the Staysure Tour at the same Spanish club looking for his first Seniors win. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THOMAS Levet returns to the scene of his 2009 Open de España victory when the European Tour Destinations Senior Classic gets under way on the Staysure Tour at PGA Catalunya Resort today (Friday).

The Frenchman captured the fifth of his six European Tour titles at the acclaimed Spanish venue, holding off Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti to secure a two-shot victory, and with it became the most decorated French golfer of all time on the European Tour.

A member of the winning 2004 Ryder Cup team, Levet is making only his fourth start on the Staysure Tour since celebrating his 50th birthday last September.

Levet will be looking to rekindle his love affair with PGA Catalunya Resort as he goes in search of his first win on the over-50s circuit.

“It’s always a pleasure to come back to a venue where you have won,” he said. “As soon as you step back onto the golf course it is as if you can feel your rhythm again and your game is back to the way it was when you won.

“It’s a strange feeling and hopefully it can last when I’m out competing on the course this week.

“My win in 2009 was probably my best week on tour. I played unbelievably all-week long from tee to green.

“The course has changed and improved a lot since then and the resort itself is unbelievable now so I’m excited to see what the week brings.”

Levet will need to outplay a formidable field if he is to emulate his triumph from a decade ago.

Former World No. 1 Ian Woosnam and Paul McGinley, who returns to action this week after a successful week as host of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, are just two of a plethora of former Ryder Cup stars set to contest the title.

Meanwhile, defending champion Magnus P Atlevi will be bidding to recapture the crown he won at Bulgaria’s Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort, 12 months ago, with Santiago Luna, who won the inaugural contest at Linna Golf & Country Club, in Finland, in 2017, also set to tee up his title challenge.

Argentina’s José Coceres, who sits atop the Staysure Tour Order of Merit, will start the tournament among the favourites after capturing his first Staysure Tour title at last week’s Swiss Seniors Open at Bad Ragaz.

Levet gets his first round under way at 10:10am, with past champions Atlevi and Luna paired in the first group of the day to play off the first tee at 9am.

•The first round of the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship at Firestone CC was interrupted by a thunderstorm with US Senior Open winner Steve Stricker in first place on five-under with a hole to play.

With some players having only just started their rounds, Miguel Angel Jimenez wa in a share of third place with South African Retief Goosen in 12th alongside Colin Montgomerie.

You can follow live scoring in Ohio here

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Texan Clark Dennis shot to the top of the leaderboard in the Swiss Seniors Open at Bad Ragaz. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

CLARK Dennis carded three birdies in his final four holes to post a six-under par 64 and race to the top of the Swiss Seniors Open leaderboard at Golf Club Bad Ragaz.

The 2017 John Jacobs Trophy winner started and finished strongly in the Swiss mountains to take a one-stroke lead into the weekend ahead of Mark Mouland and José Coceres after Friday’s first round.

Dennis, a four-time Staysure Tour winner, teed it up in Switzerland with his son Philip on the bag, as he was for his most recent victory on the over-50s circuit, the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius in 2018.

“He’s a tour-winning caddy from Mauritius! He’s my good luck charm,” Dennis said. “Having him and my wife here is great and my other son is coming to Spain next week.

“It’s great to have them here during the summer in Europe. They get to see some great stuff and experience great places. The Staysure Tour has been a blessing for my family.

“I really enjoy playing on this tour, everything is run so well. We play really nice courses like this and it’s pretty relaxed. There are a lot of good guys out here.”

The Texan carded six birdies and a hole-out eagle during his opening round but his leaderboard-topping 64 was tinged with a hint of frustration after missing short putts which would’ve extended his advantage further.

“I missed a couple of short putts but other than that, it was a flawless round,” Dennis said. “I hit it really well and only missed one green.

“If you’re driving the fairway here, you’re going to get a lot of birdie opportunities and fortunately I was able to convert eight times – well, six times, I holed out from the fairway on eight!

“It was nice not to need the putter. I’ve been struggling a little bit with my putter so it was nice to see a few go in today.

“You always think you could have been better, and I do think today could have been better, but I was pleased with how I played,” Dennis added.

Welshman Mouland and Argentina’s Coceres both carded bogey-free, five under par rounds of 65 at Golf Club Bad Ragaz to sit in tied second, while Peter Baker, Peter O’Malley, Phillip Price and Ian Woosnam are a shot further back on four-under.

A group of six players, including Berkshire’s Senior Italian Open winner Barry Lane, share eighth place on three-under with 36 holes left to play in Switzerland.

The second round will begin at 8am local time on Saturday with Dennis teeing off at 11.40am.

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