Rory McIlroy would prefer the match to be postponed rather than played without fans
McIlroy: "Ryder Cup Without Fans Is Not A Ryder Cup"
Talks are escalating over whether to stage this year's Ryder Cup without fans after the PGA of America's CEO Seth Waugh revealed that the organisation are looking at all options.
However, Europe, and the world's, star player says that he would prefer the match to be postponed rather than played on an empty course.
Rory McIlroy was speaking on a TaylorMade Instagram Live chat where he said that the Ryder Cup without fans "is not a Ryder Cup."
"I get the financial implications for everyone involved," the World No.1 said.
"There's a lot that goes into putting on the Ryder Cup that people don't appreciate, but having a Ryder Cup without fans is not a Ryder Cup.
"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!
"Obviously it would be better for the Europeans to play without fans because we wouldn't have to deal with some of the stuff that you have to put up with, but at the same time it's not a Ryder Cup.
"It wouldn't be a great spectacle, there'd 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 a year and play it in 2021."
So, will this year's event go ahead without fans? There's definitely a possibility.
The PGA of America's CEO Seth Waugh admitted that “we have begun to talk about whether you could create some virtual fan experience, and we’re going to try to be as creative as we can.”
