Imagine the 2020 Ryder Cup taking place a fortnight prior to the postponed Masters?
This question is now being raised as European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington is staying optimistic in diffusing talk of the 2020 Whistling Straits showdown being put back a year.
Harrington’s comments come after both the European Tour and the PGA of America put out a tweet saying: “Reports that the 2020 @RyderCup is expected to be postponed are inaccurate.”
However, with the Ryder Cup scheduled to be held in the last week of September there is strong suggestions the postponed Masters could be staged a fortnight week and this only if Coronavirus fears have eased.
Of course, it’s all speculation but a website check on www.booking.com shows that Augusta hotel prices have gone through the roof for the week starting Monday 5th October, 2020.
The Knights Inn located on Washington Road, and by far one of the worst-ever motels you can find in the US, is quoting $3,144 (Euro 1,236.68) for a seven-night stay from Monday 5th October and check-out on Monday 12th October.
A week later, you can get a room at the more upmarket LaQuinta Inn for just $314 (Euro 289) for a seven-night stay.
It was LPGA star Marina Alex who raised a possible Masters rescheduling green flag and responding via her Twitter account when the Home2Suites by Hilton Augusta hotel room she booked for October 5th to 12th was cancelled by the hotel without her advice: –
LPGA star Marina Alex has had her Augusta hotel room for the week of October 5th to 12th cancelled for no reason.
“Actually @Home2Suites .. I didn’t cancel my room YOU did! This is ridiculous! You reason was honouring ‘already existing’ reservations. So obviously you know the date for @TheMasters is October 5-12 and a price gouging for a better rate. COMPLETE BS! I want my room back.”
If the Masters and the now postponed PGA Championship are to be staged later in 2020, they will also have to take place at the expense of events on both the PGA Tour and European Tour.
Whether that is fair to such events as the October 8th to 11th Italian Open, and first played in 1925, remains to be seen.
However, Harrington believes the 43rd hosting of the Ryder Cup to take place in rural Wisconsin from 25-27 September.
“September is a long way off so there’s no change to the situation at all at this stage,” said Harrington.
“I know there’s been some rumours and they had to put out a statement to say there’s been no change, but there’s definitely no change.”
It has been reported that the European Tour will hold a board meeting next week, with the three-man Ryder Cup Committee meeting being put back to the following week.
