Sport 17-09-2001 Ryder Cup Cancelled who: The Ryder Cup board what: Postpone this year`s competition in the light of US events where: The Belfry, BIRMINGHAM when: Yesterday snippet: The Ryder Cup, which was due to be staged at The Belfry from September 28 to 30, has been postponed for a year as a result of the atrocious events in the US last week. "How, in this context, could golf have encouraged even playful antagonism between Europe and the US?" asks the Telegraph`s Paul Hayward, his question having no answer. "On the show-must-go-on side of the ledger, defiance was about the only word sport could confidently scrawl. A mighty urge it is, too, but no match for the weight of evidence in favour of a postponement." Any slender hopes that the Ryder Cup might nonetheless be played weakened, notes the Times, "with the announcement on Friday that Tiger Woods was withdrawing from this week`s Lancôme Trophy tournament in Paris and yesterday`s statement by the manager of Phil Mickelson and Mark Calcavecchia that his clients would not travel to Europe." BBC Online spoke to European captain Sam Torrance, who said the right decision was had been taken."The decision to postpone the Ryder Cup matches this year is one of common sense," he said. "What happened in America last week has put the Ryder Cup and everything else into perspective.There will be time enough to talk further about the 34th Ryder Cup matches taking place next year." The European Ryder Cup Board confirmed it hoped to stage the tournament at the same venue, with the same team and captains, in 12 months time. [... more]

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