Discussions are still continuing on whether the Ryder Cup goes ahead at The Belfry on September 28-30, the European Tour announced tonight. After a day of talks involving officials and players on both sides of the Atlantic the tour's director of corporate affairs and public relations Mitchell Platts issued a statement at 8pm tonight.
"We are continuing our discussions," he said. "We would like to make it quite clear that an official statement will be made by the Ryder Cup Board when these discussions have been completed."
The same statement announced that this week's event on the European Seniors Tour, due to start in Monte Carlo on Friday, has been cancelled. The only occasion the Ryder Cup has been cancelled previously was on the outbreak of World War Two, but this is clearly the most serious situation which has been faced since then.
American players Mark Calcavecchia, Jim Furyk and Scott Hoch had voiced their concerns about playing the match just two weeks after the worst terrorist attack the world has witnessed.
Florida-based Calcavecchia, 41, said: "We're due to fly out on Sunday week to England and my guess is that is too soon after this tragedy. We are all devastated by what has happened. So many innocent people killed. We were due to have dinner with the President before setting off, but that is not going to happen now. I think you can forget about the Ryder Cup for a few months at least."
Furyk, a key member of America's victorious 1999 team, added: "We're supposed to leave in 13 days. It's an important event. It's the Olympics for us. But there are more important things in life."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
