For those that were not aware a decision has been made to postpone the Ryder Cup until next year. Here is the latest from the PGA website:
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LONDON -- The Ryder Cup was postponed for one year on Sunday because of the terrorist attacks in the United States.
The action was announced by the European Ryder Cup board, which said the event, scheduled for Sept. 28-30 at The Belfry in England, instead would be played in September 2002 at the same location.
The PGA of America informed the European board that the scope of last Tuesday's terrorist strikes in New York and Washington was "so overwhelming that it would be impossible for the United States Ryder Cup Team and officials to attend the matches this month."
"We have been placed in a position beyond our control and therefore the matches, out of necessity, have been postponed," said Mitchell Platts, a European Ryder Cup Board spokesman.
Commissioner Tim Finchem of the PGA TOUR said the TOUR supports the decision by the European Ryder Cup Board to grant the PGA of America's request to postpone and reschedule the 34th Ryder Cup Matches.
"Everyone is eager to begin resuming normal activities during the days and weeks ahead, and the PGA TOUR will play its normal schedule beginning this week," Finchem said. "However, it became apparent over the last several days that the challenges posed by international travel and time away from families for innumerable fans and sponsors of the Ryder Cup Matches made it impossible to hold to the original schedule for the matches at the DeVere Belfry."
The Ryder Cup historically has been played in odd-numbered years. The Presidents Cup, a biennial competition between a team from the United States and an International team of non-European players, is held in even-numbered years.
The 2002 Presidents Cup is currently scheduled for Nov. 4-10 at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate in George, South Africa -- which would place it less than two months after the postponed Ryder Cup. PGA TOUR officials said they plan to consider all scheduling ramifications of the postponement in the next several days.
"Whenever you have an event of the scope and significance of the Ryder Cup postponed, it raises other long-term scheduling issues -- with the Presidents Cup being one of the most important, obviously," said Bob Combs, the PGA TOUR's Senior Vice President of Public Relations and Communications.
"All officials connected with the Presidents Cup will begin discussions immediately on the impact of the Ryder Cup postponement on the scheduling of the Presidents Cup. Hopefully, an announcement regarding the Presidents Cup schedule can be made sometime over the next several days."
Captain Curtis Strange of the U.S. Team said postponing the Ryder Cup was the right thing to do.
"The tragedy in America caused us all to reflect and evaluate our own lives and relationships with family and friends," Strange said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected by last Tuesday's disaster.
"With regards to this year's Ryder Cup Matches, my concern was always centered on 'the right thing to do.' The PGA of America's decision to postpone the matches is very appropriate in light of this situation. I look forward to playing the matches next year."
European Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance said the decision was one of "common sense."
"What happened in America last week has put the Ryder Cup and everything else into perspective," he said. "I am desperately heartbroken for all the people involved in this terrible tragedy.
"All I can feel at the moment is an immense sadness. There will be time enough to talk further about the 34th Ryder Cup Matches taking place next year."
Jim Awtrey, PGA of America chief executive officer, said the organization was appreciative of the respect shown by the Ryder Cup board.
"Given the enormity of the tragedy in America, we informed European officials of our desire to postpone the matches until next year," Awtrey said.
"The PGA of America is very appreciative of the support and understanding expressed by European Ryder Cup officials.
"We understand this is a hardship for them to reschedule the matches next year ... but it was important to us that the matches be played and not canceled.
"We will work with our counterparts in Europe over the next year to ensure that the 34th Ryder Cup Matches are played in the spirit in which they were meant."
The invitation for the U.S. Team and officials had not been withdrawn but extended, Platts said, 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, Torrance for the European Team and Strange for the United States, and the same 10 qualified players and two wild cards already nominated.
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LONDON -- The Ryder Cup was postponed for one year on Sunday because of the terrorist attacks in the United States.
The action was announced by the European Ryder Cup board, which said the event, scheduled for Sept. 28-30 at The Belfry in England, instead would be played in September 2002 at the same location.
The PGA of America informed the European board that the scope of last Tuesday's terrorist strikes in New York and Washington was "so overwhelming that it would be impossible for the United States Ryder Cup Team and officials to attend the matches this month."
"We have been placed in a position beyond our control and therefore the matches, out of necessity, have been postponed," said Mitchell Platts, a European Ryder Cup Board spokesman.
Commissioner Tim Finchem of the PGA TOUR said the TOUR supports the decision by the European Ryder Cup Board to grant the PGA of America's request to postpone and reschedule the 34th Ryder Cup Matches.
"Everyone is eager to begin resuming normal activities during the days and weeks ahead, and the PGA TOUR will play its normal schedule beginning this week," Finchem said. "However, it became apparent over the last several days that the challenges posed by international travel and time away from families for innumerable fans and sponsors of the Ryder Cup Matches made it impossible to hold to the original schedule for the matches at the DeVere Belfry."
The Ryder Cup historically has been played in odd-numbered years. The Presidents Cup, a biennial competition between a team from the United States and an International team of non-European players, is held in even-numbered years.
The 2002 Presidents Cup is currently scheduled for Nov. 4-10 at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate in George, South Africa -- which would place it less than two months after the postponed Ryder Cup. PGA TOUR officials said they plan to consider all scheduling ramifications of the postponement in the next several days.
"Whenever you have an event of the scope and significance of the Ryder Cup postponed, it raises other long-term scheduling issues -- with the Presidents Cup being one of the most important, obviously," said Bob Combs, the PGA TOUR's Senior Vice President of Public Relations and Communications.
"All officials connected with the Presidents Cup will begin discussions immediately on the impact of the Ryder Cup postponement on the scheduling of the Presidents Cup. Hopefully, an announcement regarding the Presidents Cup schedule can be made sometime over the next several days."
Captain Curtis Strange of the U.S. Team said postponing the Ryder Cup was the right thing to do.
"The tragedy in America caused us all to reflect and evaluate our own lives and relationships with family and friends," Strange said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected by last Tuesday's disaster.
"With regards to this year's Ryder Cup Matches, my concern was always centered on 'the right thing to do.' The PGA of America's decision to postpone the matches is very appropriate in light of this situation. I look forward to playing the matches next year."
European Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance said the decision was one of "common sense."
"What happened in America last week has put the Ryder Cup and everything else into perspective," he said. "I am desperately heartbroken for all the people involved in this terrible tragedy.
"All I can feel at the moment is an immense sadness. There will be time enough to talk further about the 34th Ryder Cup Matches taking place next year."
Jim Awtrey, PGA of America chief executive officer, said the organization was appreciative of the respect shown by the Ryder Cup board.
"Given the enormity of the tragedy in America, we informed European officials of our desire to postpone the matches until next year," Awtrey said.
"The PGA of America is very appreciative of the support and understanding expressed by European Ryder Cup officials.
"We understand this is a hardship for them to reschedule the matches next year ... but it was important to us that the matches be played and not canceled.
"We will work with our counterparts in Europe over the next year to ensure that the 34th Ryder Cup Matches are played in the spirit in which they were meant."
The invitation for the U.S. Team and officials had not been withdrawn but extended, Platts said, 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, Torrance for the European Team and Strange for the United States, and the same 10 qualified players and two wild cards already nominated.
