Colin Montgomerie has today called on the sporting world not to give in to terrorism by cancelling the Ryder Cup. Yesterday, a number of American golfers expressed their concerns about going ahead with golf's premier international tournament but Montgomerie is hopeful the biennial event will still go ahead as scheduled.
"It's too early now but let's hope that two weeks is a long time and we can use this to be beneficial in a way, to say this is what the Ryder Cup should be and should have been every time we have played; that is, uniting us through sport," he said. "This is what should happen and hopefully will happen. It is for our PGAs and Tours to get together and see if it is feasible. Let's hope we can use it as a positive message because if the Ryder Cup is cancelled or postponed, you are allowing these terrorists to win."
However, Montgomerie did accept that it is a decision that should be determined by the American competitors who have been deeply upset by Tuesday's terrorist attack on New York City and Washington DC. "We have to respect whatever the Americans decide," he explained. "They are our closest allies and we should bear in mind that this was not just an attack on America, it was and attack on the free world."
"There is no way the Americans could concentrate on playing their best golf with these tragic events so fresh in their minds, added to possible fears about travelling. In this situation it must be the American voices that are heard loudest and carry the most weight," he added.
However, much depends on how the United States react to this terrorist attack and as a result, the majority of the American team are understandably hesitant about flying to Britain to participate in the Ryder Cup. Open champion David Duval admitted he is not certain if he will be able to bring himself to fly should the Ryder Cup go ahead.
"I think a lot of the excitement and drama of the matches would inevitably be lost if the Ryder Cup did go ahead against this background. But it's not so much the matches that concern me, it's the travelling. Will I be prepared to fly? I honestly don't know. I don't have the answers, I don't think any of us do right now," he said.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
