The PGA of America, in conjunction with the Ryder Cup USA and Europe, has announced that the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup are both postponed by one year. The decision is a major blow to the golf world.
Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup, originally scheduled for 30 September to 3 October 2021, has been postponed due to Covid-19. The announcement comes at the same the 2020 Ryder Cup was formally postponed. The Presidents Cup will now take place between 19 and 25 September 2022.
The announcement by the Presidents Cup comes as a direct result of The 2020 Ryder Cup being postponed to 2021. The year-long delay for both events is due to Covid-19 safety concerns for players, officials and fans. Current Covid-19 cases in July 2020 have skyrocketed across the U.S, prompting the USGA and related golf event organisations to delay events throughout the PGA Tour.
Ryder Cup
The announcement was made by press release on the 8th of July via the PGA Tour, Ryder Cup Europe and the PGA of America. The Ryder Cup’s new dates are 21 – 26 September 2021. The Ryder Cup postponement comes after an outcry from PGA players rejecting the idea of playing the immersive event without plans. The decision to delay the Presidents Cup until 2022 gives the event breathing room for Covid-19 to settle down and international travel to stabilise.
The Media
Golf Digest reported that despite competitive professional golf having already returned in 2020 in time for summer, safety measures and precautions cannot be guaranteed later in the year. The decision comes as no surprise with international fans showing little enthusiasm about travelling to the U.S.
Golf in the U.S: Post-Covid
The financial implications of delaying both the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup will be enormous on both host venues Quail Hollow and Whistling Straits. The decision to postpone both events does not come lightly; however, until a vaccine or cure is found for Covid-19, golf fans do not want to travel. Both events are dependent on fan participation and large crowds; the decision to delay each event by one-year sparks hope that fans will be able to attend each event when they finally occur.
