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Rory McIlroy would rather postpone the Ryder Cup until 2021 than play it this year without fans.<\/p>\nRory McIlroy would rather postpone the Ryder Cup until 2021 than play it this year without fans.<\/p>\n
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted sport across the globe and has had serious implications in golf.<\/p>\n
The first two major championships of the year \u2013 the Masters and the US PGA \u2013 have been postponed, although the Ryder Cup is still scheduled for September.<\/p>\n
However, in an Instagram Live with TaylorMade Golf, McIlroy said: \u201cI have a pretty strong view on this.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get the financial implications for everyone involved\u2026 there\u2019s a lot that goes into putting on the Ryder Cup that people don\u2019t probably know or appreciate \u2013 but having a Ryder Cup without fans is not a Ryder Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me I would much rather they delay it until 2021 than play it at Whistling Straits without fans. And that\u2019s from a European going to America, knowing that I\u2019m going to get abuse!\u201d<\/p>\n
The four-time major champion has previously said he felt more pressure playing in the Ryder Cup rather than in majors.<\/p>\n
And he continued: \u201cObviously it would be better for Europeans to play without fans because we wouldn\u2019t have to deal with some of the stuff that you have to put up with \u2013 but at the same time it\u2019s not a Ryder Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be a great spectacle, there\u2019d be no atmosphere, so if it came to whether they had to choose between not playing the Ryder Cup or playing it without fans, I would say just delay it for a year and play it in 2021.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they do delay it until 2021, the next Ryder Cup is supposed to be in Italy, and we know how badly affected Italy was by coronavirus, so it gives that country an extra year to prepare for the Ryder Cup in 2023 instead of 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is only one opinion but if we have to play the Ryder Cup behind closed doors this year, I\u2019d rather just delay it.\u201d<\/p>\n