An open letter from Captains Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker

Home > News > An open letter from Captains Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker
The Ryder Cup is always fiercely contested but it is just golf. It is not a matter of life and death.
Posted on
April 7, 2020
by
The Editorial Team in
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
An open letter from Captains Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker
(Getty Images)


A message to everyone,

Every two years Europe and the United States of America come together. We are united by the shared values of sportsmanship and our desire to defeat a formidable opponent. In doing so, we witness some incredible displays of determination, passion and spirit.


When Europe takes on the United States in The Ryder Cup it is always fiercely contested but it is just golf. It is not a matter of life and death.

Fighting Coronavirus is.

Today Europe and the United States are united like never before. We have a formidable opponent, but it is not each other. It is like nothing we have ever faced before.



Defeating Coronavirus wonโ€™t happen in three days. It wonโ€™t happen because of the efforts of only 12 men. It needs all of us to play our part.  So while Europe and the America once again come together, we also stand as one with all of our friends around the world during this unprecedented global crisis. 

As Ryder Cup Captains, we proudly represent all the players, caddies, staff and partners of the European Tour and PGA of America and we speak on behalf of every single one of them when we say that our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected.


We also speak for them when we say that we are all moved by the incredible determination, passion and spirit we are witnessing from our health professionals, key workers and everyone else on the front line in this battle. We are all indebted to the incredible work they are all doing.

Last week, some of the worldโ€™s leading golfers featured in a social media video thanking our heroes. We want to take this opportunity to reiterate our sincere gratitude to all of you once more.


Today is #WorldHealthDay. It should also be a day when we are all at Augusta National for the first Major of the 2020 season, but golf is insignificant right now. Instead of celebrating someone in a Green Jacket, this week we rightly celebrate those selfless people around the world wearing scrubs, wearing white coats, wearing supermarket uniforms, together with everyone else working round the clock to protect us and keep the world functioning. You are our true heroes. For them, we urge everyone to please stay safe, stay healthy and stay home.  And stay united. 


An open letter from Captains Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker
An open letter from Captains Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker

Pรกdraig Harrington, European Ryder Cup Captain

Steve Stricker,United States Ryder Cup Captain

The Editorial Team Avatar

About The Editorial Team

The editorial team at Golf Today strives to provide readers with captivating content that celebrates the rich heritage and exciting developments in the world of golf. Their collective expertise and dedication ensure that Golf Today remains a premier destination for golf enthusiasts seeking the latest news, insightful analysis, and engaging stories from the world of golf.

Updated: ago

Join the discussion

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read Next

The Claret Jug is displayed during previews for The 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club

The 152nd Open - memories made, lasting leaves

M. James Ward outlines the central storylines from this year's final major championship and the ripples cast going forward.
An aerial view of the 11th hole on the Old Course Vilamoura

Dom Pedro Old Course set for sustainable renovations

Dom Pedro Vilamoura Old Course is set to undergo significant renovations in an effort to rejuvenate the iconic Algarve destination.
Top 10 performances in golf’s major championships

The five best modern Open championship players

M. James Ward outlines the greatest champions of links golf since World War II
magnifiercrossmenuchevron-downcross-circle
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram