Coronavirus: Rory McIlroy against fan-free Ryder Cup
- World No 1 would rather event was delayed for a year than played to empty galleries – ‘having a Ryder Cup without fans is not a Ryder Cup’
- PGA considering ‘virtual fan experience’ for Europe against US in September as pandemic leaves golf season in chaos
World No 1 Rory McIlroy on Tuesday added his voice to the chorus of players opposed to the idea of playing this year’s Ryder Cup without spectators.
With the global golf season in chaos due to the coronavirus pandemic, the game’s administrators are running through a range of possible scenarios as they attempt to plot a path back to competition.
For organisers of the Ryder Cup, which is due to take place at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, from September 25-27, that has included studying whether the tournament could be played without fans.
PGA chief executive Seth Waugh revealed earlier this week that officials had looked at the possibility of creating a “virtual fan experience” for the fiercely competitive team clash between Europe and the United States.
Waugh however acknowledged that a Ryder Cup without spectators was “hard to imagine,” noting they were an integral part of the raucous and often febrile golfing spectacle.
McIlroy, speaking during an Instagram live event for sponsors TaylorMade, said he would rather see this year’s event delayed for a year than played before empty galleries.
