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'We are all devastated' Players split on postponement of Ryder Cup
Updated: Wednesday September 12, 2001 9:48 PM ST LOUIS (Reuters) -- Players from both sides of the Atlantic had mixed feelings on Wednesday about whether the Ryder Cup should take place later this month following Tuesday's terror attacks in New York and Washington. "I hate to guess on whether they will play it or not," American Jim Furyk said about the team clash between the U.S. and Europe at The Belfry in central England on Sept. 28-30. "We as players look forward to the Ryder Cup and it's a kind of a reward for two years of playing well to get there. It's kind of our Olympics," he said. But he added: "In light of yesterday's tragedy, there are a lot more important things in life. As a player, I'd like to wait and see and make that decision based on what may transpire between now and then." U.S. golf's $5 million American Express Championship, scheduled for this week at Bellerive Country Club, was cancelled on Wednesday, together with the Tampa Bay Classic, the Buy.com Oregon Classic and the Senior Tour's Vantage Championship.
The European Tour's Monte Carlo Invitational Seniors tournament, scheduled to start on Friday, was also cancelled on the orders of the Monaco government, officials said. Irishman Padraig Harrington, who was at the Bellerive Country Club with Furyk for the American Express event, said: "You're only giving in by stopping things." "There's a very difficult line between saying: 'yes, we're stopping to show respect to the victims and their families and what happened', and going on and saying: 'no, we're not giving into these terrorists by stopping. People have to get on with their lives and not give in to acts like this'. "I think in Britain they've had to live with terrorist attacks more over there and they've taken the attitude in England and Ireland that they can't stop things and let these people change their lives." Both the PGA of America and the European PGA Tour have said discussions are underway about the event. On Tuesday, immediately following the strikes against the World Trade Center's twin towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, feelings ran high among some U.S. players about travelling overseas for the matches so soon after the attacks. "We are due to fly out on Sunday week to England, and my guess is that is too soon after this tragedy," former British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia was quoted as saying. "We are all devastated by what has happened, so many innocent people killed. We were due to have dinner with the President at the White House before flying over to Britain, and that is not going to happen now. "I think you can forget about the Ryder Cup for a few months at least." Stewart Cink also sounded worried on Tuesday. "I feel a lot less safe about flying to England than I did 24 hours ago," he said. "The United States do not have many national sides in international competition, so this would be a huge target for any of America's enemies. "If someone wanted to strike at America, or freedom, or capitalism, the Ryder Cup would be a tempting event to hit," Cink was quoted as saying. Cink would not be drawn into a discussion of the topic on Wednesday. "I don't want to comment on the Ryder Cup," he said. "We've been instructed not to talk about it." Englishman Lee Westwood said on Wednesday: "I have no idea of whether they will play it or not. "I personally think a couple of weeks afterwards, after people have had a chance to mourn and reflect on things, life should go on at that stage.
"I would feel comfortable playing it."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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