The 34th Ryder Cup Matches have been rescheduled for The De Vere Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England, from 27th to 29th September, 2002. The European Ryder Cup Board has also announced that the inevitable consequence of the decision to postpone the Matches in 2001 and reschedule in 2002 is that the Matches will be played in even numbered years for the foreseeable future.
Consequently The Ryder Cup Matches will be played at Oakland Hills CC, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, in September 2004; at The K Club, Straffan, Ireland, in September 2006; and at Valhalla GC, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, in September 2008.
No decision has yet been made on the venue for the 38th Ryder Cup Matches, which now will be played in 2010. The 39th Ryder Cup Matches are to be at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois in 2012.
The PGA Tour has now confirmed its widely anticipated move of the next Presidents Cup from 2002 to 2003. The event’s fifth playing will take place in November, 2003 at the Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estates in George, South Africa.
“After several discussions with the professional tours both here and in Europe, rescheduling the Ryder Cup Matches in the future to even-numbered years and the Presidents Cup to odd-numbered years appears to be the most logical solution given the situation we are dealing with,” said PGA of America chief executive officer Jim Awtrey.
The Solheim Cup Matches are also potentially affected by the move since these are scheduled to be played at Interlachen Golf Club in Minneapolis on 20th to 22nd September, 2002 – now the week before the Ryder Cup. The women’s team event had been running on an even-year schedule in part to avoid competing with the Ryder Cup Matches. LPGA officials have not yet commented on any possible ramifications as a result of the Ryder Cup’s move.
Even though the Ryder Cup will next be played in 2002, US Captain Curtis Strange said earlier this week that his players would wear clothing with 2001 logos so “we don’t forget why we’re playing a year later”.
The European Ryder Cup Board has said that it will make a further announcement within the next 36 hours to confirm arrangements with regard to individual purchasers of tickets and has placed on record its appreciation to the De Vere Group Plc, and the Irish Government and The K Club in agreeing to stage the Matches in 2006. The European Ryder Cup Board says that it is especially grateful to the Birmingham and West Midlands hotel community, The National Exhibition Centre and the ground transportation providers.
PGA of America www.pga.com
European Tour www.europeantour.com