Colin Montgomerie is adamant that money and not sport is the only thing preventing a final decision being reached on the fate of this year’s Ryder Cup.
Reports suggest that postponement to 2021 could be announced this week by the PGA of America and the European Tour, with no infrastructure currently in place at the Whistling Straits host venue ahead of September’s scheduled competition.
Ryder Cup legend Montgomerie has long been of the belief that the Ryder Cup should show patience to ensure the integrity of the tournament is upheld and if that means delaying a year to allow all the ingredients be in place for the biennial contest, so be it.
“The powers that be, if they can economically afford not to do this and can delay this a year, let’s hope they do,” Montgomerie said to Sky Sports News.
“The Ryder Cup without fans is not the Ryder Cup. I think we can play golf tournaments [without fans], we’ve proven that and it’s been a success, but the Ryder Cup is a unique event and in that way, we need fans.”
European Team Captain, Padraig Harrington was quick to reveal last week that he was unaware of any updates surrounding the fate of this year’s event in Wisconsin but Montgomerie, a winning Captain in 2010, believes the three-time Major winner will have no influence on the outcome.
“If it’s not economics, it should have been delayed already. It was delayed because of 9/11 in 2001, and we all accepted that,” he added.
“Everything’s been put back a year. If the Ryder Cup’s delayed a year, great, let it be. Let’s play the Ryder Cup properly when we can in 2021.
“If the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor was postponed because of something outside my influence as captain, or Padraig’s influence as captain this time around – as it is – he’s got to abide by it and I’m sure he will.”
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