The postponement of September’s Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits until 2021 has had the domino effect of pushing future matches on by a year, resulting in Adare Manor’s hosting of the matches moving to 2027 – a date that coincides with the Ryder Cup’s centenary.
The County Limerick resort, which is owned by JP McManus, will be hoping that the milestone will add an extra historical layer to the matches, which will be the 46th renewal since the Ryder Cup’s inaugural encounter between USA and Great Britain and Ireland at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts in 1927.
Guy Kinnings, the European Tour’s Ryder Cup director, said: “I think the opportunity of it becoming the centenary, which none of us had envisaged, will allow us to build on that heritage which the island of Ireland has embraced. We saw it with the Open Championship last year and what we are building now towards 2027 at Adare Manor.”
A statement issued by the resort, said: “As a future Ryder Cup venue, Adare Manor is understanding and fully supportive of the decision to postpone this year’s event at Whistling Straits, given the circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic. The health and safety of both fans and players is of paramount importance and we are wholeheartedly behind the decision made by the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe.
“For all upcoming venues hosting this historic event, there is a huge responsibility to ensure public safety and, given the uncertain times, the right decision has been made. We believe it is the incredible atmosphere created by the spectators that helps make the Ryder Cup so special, and we agree that the Ryder Cup this year without them just wouldn’t have been the same.
“As our own exciting plans for the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in 2027 continue, where we’ll be honoured to now be staging the centenary year, we would like to wish Whistling Straits the very best in their preparations over the next 12 months.”
Adare Manor, which is owned by Limerick financier JP McManus, will host the Ryder Cup 21 years after K Club became the first Irish venue to host the matches. The matches are estimated to be worth up to €161 million to the Irish economy and the three-day event will be broadcast to more than 370 million homes around the world.
More than 270,000 fans attended the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Paris, and a similar number will be expected to descend on Adare in seven years’ time.