This archive report was first published on 23 April 2020.
Published on April 23, 2020, the global golf season was in chaos due to the coronavirus pandemic. As golf administrators attempted to plot a path back to competition, they explored various scenarios, including the possibility of playing the Ryder Cup without fans.
The Ryder Cup, scheduled to take place at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin from September 25-27, was a fiercely competitive team clash between Europe and the United States. PGA chief executive Seth Waugh revealed that officials had considered creating a 'virtual fan experience' for the event.
However, Waugh acknowledged that a Ryder Cup without spectators was 'hard to imagine,' as fans were an integral part of the event's atmosphere. World number one Rory McIlroy, speaking during an Instagram live event for sponsors TaylorMade, expressed his strong opposition to the idea of playing the Ryder Cup without fans.
McIlroy stated, 'I have a pretty strong view on this. I get the financial implications for everyone involved -- there's a lot that goes into putting on the Ryder Cup that people don't probably know or appreciate -- but having a Ryder Cup without fans is not a Ryder Cup.'
He added, 'For me, I would much rather they delay it until 2021 than play it at Whistling Straits without fans. And that's from a European going to America, knowing that I'm going to get abuse!'
