Golf's world number one Tiger Woods believes that postponing the Ryder Cup tournament until September 2002 was the right decision to make. The decision to put back golf's premier world event for 12 months was taken after the recent terrorist attacks on America and it comes as a relief to Woods and many more of his fellow American team members. They had expressed their fears about travelling to the event, which was to be held this year at The Belfry.
Woods had already pulled out of next week's Lancome Trophy in Paris and he emphasised that postponing the Ryder Cup tournament was the right thing to do for both the American and European camps. "I definitely think it's the right decision, especially with retaliation imminent. Whatever decision the PGA of America made, I was going to support but they made the safest decision."
Andrew Chandler, manager of European team members Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood, said: "There is no way Tiger Woods' safety can be guaranteed against people who don't care about killing themselves. In a middle of a fairway he is just too vulnerable."
Steve Loy, the agent for Americans Phil Mickelson and Mark Calcavecchia, stated: "To be frank, a golf tournament would be an easy place to commit mass murder, no matter how tight the security. My players want to take part in the Ryder Cup, but they have to put their families first."
European captain Sam Torrance also welcomed the news of the postponement. "The decision to postpone is one of common sense. What happened in America last week has put the Ryder Cup and everything else into perspective. 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 match taking place next year," he said.
His American counterpart, Curtis Strange, was unsurprisingly supportive of the decision. "The tragedy has caused us all to reflect and evaluate our own lives and relationship with family and friends. Our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected by last Tuesday's disaster," he said. "With regards to these Ryder Cup matches my concern was always centred on `the right thing to do.' The PGA of America's decision to postpone the match is very appropriate in light of the situation."
Ireland's Padraig Harrington, due to make his second Ryder Cup appearance this year, was not surprised by the announcement. "I think we all knew it was coming," he said. "To be honest, there’s loads of good reasons why we should postpone it and maybe one or two for why we should go on but in the greater context of things, while the Ryder Cup is important, it’s certainly not that important and postponing it suits everybody’s reasoning."
"I don’t think the Americans would be capable of focusing on a week like that after everything that’s happened in the States, because of what's happened and because they feel they could be potential targets too," he added.
Meanwhile, the President's Cup, contested by America and a Rest of the World minus Europe team, scheduled for South Africa in November 2002, has also been put back 12 months.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
