Ryder Cup expected to be postponed until 2021 due to coronavirus crisis

“They would be prepared to host it behind closed gates, with no spectators at all, if necessary,” an insider told Telegraph Sport. “There is so much invested in the 150th celebrations on the Old Course.”

The finances are even more gargantuan when it comes to Ryder Cup, but interestingly, the organisers would think it far from a disaster if they felt obliged to revert the match to being staged in odd years.

When golf was re-included in the Olympics in 2016, following a 112-year absence, it meant that every four years the Ryder Cup would have to go up against the sporting mammon. “There would be far bigger gains to be made in advertising and marketing and everything in a non-Olympic year,” another source said.

There is also the cost in staging the event to consider. There is a 16-week lead-up for infrastructure and insurance companies are understandably averse to taking on the risk. “There is zero chance the Ryder Cup will be played in front of no fans,” the insider said. The European Tour holds a full-board meeting next week with a Ryder Cup steering meeting a week later and it is then when the suspension could be ratified.

In 2001, the teams were already confirmed when it was cancelled with three weeks to go, but Paul McGinley, the former captain, believes that this time, the qualification process should continue. “Qualifying has only just started and the final teams are nowhere near being in place,” he told Sky Sports. “So, I would say that qualification would remain open.”