The
Ryder Cup
in association with Genuity International |
| | | Players
back decision over Ryder Cup The
Ryder Cup, the world's biggest team even in golf, has been has been postponed
for a year because of the US terrorist outrage. The
only time it has been postponed before was in 1939, just before the outbreak of
the second world war. Charles
Rowe, the thensecretary of the British PGA, wrote to his opposite number in the
United States saying: "When we have settled our differences and peace reigns,
we will see that our team comes across to remove the Ryder Cup from your safekeeping."
It took six years before the contest was resumed. The
biggest impact of the postponement is on the thousands of fans who have bought
tickets. Hotels
in and around Birmingham now have vacancies they did not expect and the planning
for next year starts with the unravelling of the arrangements for next week. The
tourism industry in Scotland could also suffer from the announcement, as many
visitors to the Ryder Cup were expected to include golf trips north of the border
in their itineraries. Sam
Torrance, British team captain, and Curtis Strange, his American counterpart,
supported the cancellation. Torrance said the decision to postpone was one of
common sense. Strange
said the decision to postpone the match was appropriate in light of the situation. "The
tragedy has caused us all to reflect and evaluate our own lives and relationship
with family and friends," he said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to
all those affected by last Tuesday's disaster." The
European Ryder Cup Board announced that the 34th match, due to be played later
this month at the Belfry, would be put back to September 2002, when it will be
staged at the same venue. The
move was almost inevitable after players and agents on both sides of the Atlantic
suggested the match should not go ahead. Most
of the European team were in agreement that the final decision on whether the
match should proceed should be left to their opponents. On
Thursday, the USPGA said the bottom line was the willingness of the 12 American
players to make the trip and it was rumoured that unanimity was needed. That never
seemed likely. On
Friday, Tiger Woods pulled out of this week's Lancome Trophy in Paris, an action
which probably tilted the mood in favour of postponement. Other
key members of the American side also voiced their apprehension, including Dave
Duval, Open champion and self-confessed fan of the game and crowds on this side
of the Atlantic. In
a statement on his website, Woods said: "I feel strongly that this is a time
to pause, reflect and remember the victims of Tuesday's horrific attack. I also
fear that the security risks of travelling overseas at the present time are too
great." Stewart
Cink, one of three debutants in the American team, said he believed the Belfry
would become a target for "any of America's enemies". However,
European player Padraig Harrington said it was important not to bow to terrorism. "It's
a fine line. You have to do something. You can stop and show respect for the injured
and dead. But the terrorists are winning more of the battle if it doesn't go ahead,"
he said. This
logic may have influenced decisions by other parts of the sporting world to carry
on as planned. This includes American basketball, and various other sporting events
including the US Grand Prix, scheduled for Indianapolis on September 30. The
Ryder Cup, which began in 1927, has become one of the biggest events in golf. Two
years ago, the United States pulled off the greatest comeback in history with
a 45-foot putt by Justin Leonard and a celebration by his team-mates which caused
much offence. Mitchell
Platts, a spokesman for the Ryder Cup board, said the invitation for the US team
and officials had not been withdrawn but extended, and the process of rescheduling
the matches for 2002 would begin as soon as possible. It
has been agreed the matches will take place with the same captains and teams. Richard
Caborn, the sports minister, said. "In these tragic circumstances, it is
quite understandable," he said. "It must have been an agonising decision
for the Ryder Cup committee, but one I support."
Genuity
International, in association with Ryder Cup, sponsors Golf Today
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