Ryder Cup: the Italian edition is postponed until 2023

The USA-Europe challenge in Wisconsin has been moved from 2020 to 2021 due to the health emergency and, as a result, the event in Rome at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club has been postponed for a year. The Italian Golf Federation acknowledges the decision as it continues with its schedule.

Following the one-year postponement, the Italian Ryder Cup will be played in 2023. The super challenge between the USA and Europe – initially scheduled from 30th September to 2nd October 2022 at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Guidonia Montecelio (Rome) – was postponed following the decision by the PGA of America to postpone the event due to the health emergency. This comes after the US edition was moved from 2020 to 2021, now to be held in the week from 21st to 26th September, on the course of the Whistling Straits Golf Course in Kohler in the state of Wisconsin. The qualification criteria for the make-up of the two teams remains unchanged. Fundamental in the decision to postpone was the opinion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This had a cascading effect on all other Ryder Cups until the 2037 edition. And it doesn’t end there. Also postponed by a year was the President’s Cup, a match that pits the USA against the rest of the world (with the exception of Europe), which will now be held from 19th to 25th September 2022.

The new Ryder Cup calendar up to 2037 is now: 2021 – Whistling Straits Golf Course (Kohler, USA); 2023 – Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Rome, Italy, date to be determined); 2025 – Bethpage Black (Farmingdale, New York); 2027 – Adare Manor (County Limerick, Ireland); 2029 –Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, Minnesota); 2031 – Europe (location to be selected); 2033 – The Olympic Club (San Francisco); 2035 – Europe (location to be selected); 2037 – Congressional Country Club (Bethesda, Maryland).

Statements

Seth Waugh, CEO of the PGA of America: “It became clear that as of today, our medical experts and the public authorities in Wisconsin could not give us certainty that conducting an event responsibly with thousands of spectators in September would be possible. Given that uncertainty, we knew rescheduling was the right call. As disappointing as this is, our mandate to do all we can to safeguard public health is what matters most. The spectators who support both the US and European sides are what make the Ryder Cup such a unique and compelling event and playing without them was not a realistic option.”

Guy Kinnings, Director of Ryder Cup Europe: “Although the works at Marco Simone are proceeding on schedule, with the news that the 44th Ryder Cup will take place in 2023 instead of 2022 will give Italy – a country with an extraordinary history in the organisation of special sport events – additional time to prepare to host in Rome, a little more than 3 years from now, the largest team match in golf, being an exceptional opportunity for the city.”

Franco Chimenti, President of the Italian Golf Federation and Vice-president of Coni: “The wait for the Ryder Cup in Rome is extended by a year due to the health emergency. We acknowledge and share the joint decision of the PGA of America and the Ryder Cup Europe. For us, nothing changes given that we were ready to respect all of the deadlines. The Ryder Cup in Rome is an international showcase that puts Italy at the centre of the world. Today, we are the envy of all due to this event that will help to increase the prestige of Italian sport. It is also an opportunity for the development of Tourism and the revival of employment, especially following the pandemic that is generating an economic crisis with few precedents. I would like to once again thank all administrators who, since 2015 to date, have guaranteed full support to the Italian Golf Federation. This is a demonstration of the planetary importance of the competition, which has had and has a transversal consensus. Thanks also to Coni and President Giovanni Malagò for having believed from the outset in the potential of the project to advance the golfing movement that can now also count on the institutional support of the Dicastery of Sport led by Minister Vincenzo Spadafora. We will continue to work tirelessly towards the objectives, in complete harmony with the Board of Ryder Cup Europe, Marco Simone and Infront, the Official Advisor of the Italian Golf Federation.”

Gian Paolo Montali, General Manager of the Ryder Cup Project: “We respect the choice made due to the pandemic, a global health emergency that no-one could have calculated. The success of the Ryder Cup depends on the media visibility of the event and the participation of the spectators in the climate of a great sporting competition but also of popular enthusiasm. I cannot hide the displeasure of the postponement, given that we have worked hard and with great rigor throughout the last four years so that everything would be ready and in the best conditions to host an iconic Ryder Cup in 2022. Our schedule, also with regard to the work on the route of the competition and on issues related to traffic and infrastructure, is absolutely in line with the times set, as is the case with all commitments made so far. We will now have more time to work and to make the event even more unique and special.”

Steve Stricker, Capitano Team Usa alla Ryder Cup 2021 – “Nonostante il dispiacere di non poter disputare la competizione quest’anno, la decisione del rinvio, viste la situazione attuale d’emergenza, è stata giusta. Avere più tempo per l’organizzazione della gara ci permetterà di dar vita a una sfida senza precedenti che avverrà nel Wisconsin dove sono nato e cresciuto”.

Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna, President of Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: “A great sense of responsibility led to the decision to move the first Italian Ryder Cup in history to 2023. That same sense of responsibility has guided us throughout these months in lockdown to carry out the work in complete safely and without any interruption, in order to offer all fans the possibility of playing at the Marco Simone very soon, on the very routing of the Ryder Cup. I thank the institutions, the Italian Golf Federation, CONI, Ryder Cup Europe, the Marco Simone Team and all of the people who – with foresight and courage – are working to offer Rome, Italy and the world an innovative, visionary and exciting Ryder Cup!”

Steve Stricker, Captain of Team USA at the 2021 Ryder Cup: “The decision to reschedule is the right thing to do under the circumstances. At the end of the day, we want to stage a Ryder Cup that will rival all other Ryder Cups in my home state of Wisconsin, and now we have the opportunity to showcase the event as it was meant to be seen.”

Padraig Harrington, Captain of Team Europe at the Ryder Cup 2021: “Rescheduling the Ryder Cup was never going to be an easy decision given the many factors to take into consideration but I believe it is the right assessment given the unprecedented circumstances we are facing at this time. However, I believe it was the right choice given the unprecedented circumstances. When you think of the Ryder Cup, you think of the distinctive atmosphere generated by the spectators. Without them, the show would not have been the same. The wait will be long but I can guarantee that Team Europe will be ready.”