Ryder Cup postponed for a year

World number one Tiger Woods has fully endorsed the decision by the PGA of America to put back the 2001 Ryder Cup by a year.

Woods, who was told about the postponement by United States captain Curtis Strange on the phone on Sunday, said the decision was the right one, "especially with retaliation imminent".

The 2001 Ryder Cup, scheduled for The Belfry from September 28-30, has been postponed until 2002 as a result of last week's terror attacks on the United States.

"Whatever decision the PGA of America made, I was going to support. They made the safest decision," Woods, the reigning Masters champion, said on his official website.

"I talked to Curtis today and he said the same team would play next year in September at The Belfry and the Presidents Cup goes to 2003. They've moved everything back a year."

The next Presidents Cup, contested biennially by the United States and an International team, will now be played in November 2003 at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club in South Africa.

"I definitely think it's the right decision, especially with retaliation imminent," said Woods. "The last thing you want to do is get caught in Europe.

"I think we need to come together as a nation, and I think we're doing that. It's unfortunate that it took a situation like this to bring people together, but at least it's happening. Our national pride is starting to come out."

Sweden's Pierre Fulke, who was set to play in his first Ryder Cup at The Belfry later this month, believes Sunday's decision to postpone the biennial contest was the only one that could have been made.

GOOD DECISION

"I think it's a very good decision," Fulke told Sky Sports.

"Everybody's gut feeling after Tuesday was that the Ryder Cup would be in danger and you have to understand the American players who did not want to travel.

"I think, under the circumstances, it's the only decision that could have been made."

"From a personal point of view, if they had cancelled it (the 2001 Ryder Cup), it would have been disappointing for me and the other rookies in the team but it has only been postponed and so we will still be Ryder Cup players next year," Fulke said.

Fulke, who won last year's Volvo Masters in Jerez, was one of four rookies in the European team for The Belfry, alongside fellow Swede Niclas Fasth, Irishman Paul McGinley and Welshman Phillip Price.

"All the European team members wanted to go ahead and play the matches (this year) and obviously this decision has been made by the U.S. team," Fulke said.

"We talked about it yesterday coming over from America.

"All the European team agreed that we wanted to go ahead but the decision has basically been made by the U.S. team -- probably a lot of their team members just do not want to travel at this time.

"But we just don't know what's going to happen over the next few days -- we could have a small World War Three or something -- so I think it's a very good decision."