Padraig Harrington hopes for "seriously big party" at the Ryder Cup
Team Europe captain Padraig Harrington hopes to see a full capacity crowd at this year's Ryder Cup, but said there is little "wiggle room" to delay the event any further.
Padraig Harrington believes there will be a "seriously big party" should the Ryder Cup go ahead with a full capacity crowd, but said there is little "wiggle room" to push the event back again, after it was already postponed by a year.
The biennial event was scheduled to take place at Whistling Straits in 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic that shook the entire world meant that having spectators at the Ryder Cup wasn't an option, leading to its postponement to 2021.
Team Europe captain Harrington accepts that the Ryder Cup may have to take place under restrictions rather than delay it further, but the Irishman expects an atmosphere like no other should fans be able to attend.
"You just can't predict what it's going to be like in September," Harrington said ahead of this week's Omega Dubai Desert Classic. "I assume everybody goes through highs and lows thinking that, hey, it's all going to be over soon, and then it's not going to be over.
"I think the only thing I can do as a Ryder Cup captain is prepare myself and my team as best I can with the idea that it's full steam ahead. I know Ryder Cup Europe and the PGA of America will do the planning for all contingencies.
RELATED: Tyrrell Hatton has his eyes set on securing Ryder Cup spot "as fast as possible"
"I know if it does go ahead with full spectators and things like that, it will be a seriously, seriously big party. I think the relief for people to get out there and go to a sporting event of that magnitude will be palpable, and I'm sure the players will appreciate it.
"At the end of the day, I don't believe there is wiggle room for pushing this back. It's full steam ahead. I suppose I could have said the same thing this time last year.
"We are in the same boat now, but I'm an optimist and I believe we will be good to go in a capacity for sure that the players will want to be there and enjoy it."
