Ryder Cup Reboot 

Golf world anxiously waiting for Whistling Straits’ do-over 

K eep your fingers crossed, avoid walking under ladders and, hope- fully, all of your good luck charms are in working order. Oh, and mask up. Then, just then, we might see some normalcy return to the 2021 Golftime tournament calendar.

Last year COVID-19 ravaged the world with its impact trickling down to everything in our daily lives, including our ability to watch and enjoy tournament golf. 

Only a handful of professional golf events were conducted in the Golftime region in 2020 as the pandemic’s reach continued to grow. 

Nationally, the PGA Tour canceled or 

of America, Ryder Cup Europe and PGA Tour jointly decided to push back the event one year. 

It will still be held at Whistling Straits on the rescheduled dates of Sept. 21-26. And Wisconsin’s Steve Stricker is still in charge of the U.S. team, his captaincy having been extended one year. 

“At the end of the day, we want a Ryder Cup that will rival all other Ryder Cups in my home state of Wisconsin, and now we have the opportunity to showcase the event as it is meant to be seen,” Stricker said. 

The hope is that vaccines will neutralize the virus enough so that the event can be staged with full corporate support and Wisconsin native Jerry Kelly defends not one, but two titles in the Midwest this summer postponed two months’ worth of tournaments and when play resumed in June, there were no pro-ams or spectators. The new normal included a U.S. Open in September and a Masters in November. 

Perhaps the biggest event on the golf calendar last year also fell victim to the pandemic. 

The 43rd Ryder Cup, scheduled to be held in September at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wisconsin, was postponed one year. 

Left with no viable options to stage the Ryder Cup as scheduled in September 2020 because of the pandemic, the PGA helps create the atmosphere that makes the Ryder Cup unique in all of golf. 

“That’s what makes the Ryder Cup so special,” said Seth Waugh, CEO of the PGA of America. “It’s the passion that it arouses, the tribalism, the nationalism.” 

Tickets purchased for the 2020 Ryder Cup via rydercup.com will be automatically valid for the corresponding day(s) in 2021. Tickets will be mailed out approximately six weeks prior to the event’s new dates. 

Following is the 2021 schedule (fingers crossed) for the Golftime region: 

May 24-30, Glenview, Illinois 

Korn Ferry Tour 

EVANS SCHOLARS INVITATIONAL 

COURSE: The Glen Club
DEFENDING CHAMP: Curtis Thompson

TV: Golf Channel 

THE SKINNY: Curtis Thompson won by one stroke after the tournament was moved from May to September due to the pandemic. 

 

June 3-6, Dublin, Ohio 

PGA Tour 

THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT 

June 11-13, Harris, Michigan 

Symetra Tour 

ISLAND RESORT CHAMPIONSHIP 

COURSE: Sweetgrass Golf Club 

2020 RESULTS: Canceled 

DEFENDING 2019 CHAMP: Daniella Iacobelli 

THE SKINNY: Daniella Iacobelli won the tournament by shooting an 11-under 205. 

 

June 17-20, Grand Rapids, Michigan 

LPGA Tour 

MEIJER LPGA CLASSIC FOR SIMPLY GIVE 

COURSE: Blythefield Country Club
2020 RESULTS: Canceled
DEFENDING 2019 CHAMP: Brooke Henderson TV: Golf Channel 

THE SKINNY: The LPGA boosted the purse
for the tournament in 2019, raising total winnings to $2.3 million. 

 

June 24-27, Akron, Ohio 

PGA Tour Champions 

BRIDGESTONE SENIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 

COURSE: Firestone Country Club

2020 RESULTS: Canceled

DEFENDING 2019 CHAMP: Vijay Singh

TV: Golf Channel 

THE SKINNY: The Bridgestone Senior Players is one of five major championships on the PGA Tour Champions. 

 

July 1-4, Detroit Michigan 

PGA Tour 

ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC 

COURSE: Detroit Golf Club 

DEFENDING CHAMP: Bryson DeChambeau 

TV: CBS/Golf Channel 

THE SKINNY: This year will mark the third year of Detroit’s only PGA event. 

COURSE: Muirfield Village Golf Club
DEFENDING CHAMP: Jon Rahm
TV: CBS/Golf Channel
THE SKINNY: Jon Rahm posted a three-stroke victory. 

 

June 4-6, Des Moines, Iowa 

PGA Tour Champions 

PRINCIPAL CHARITY CLASSIC 

COURSE: Wakonda Club 

2020 RESULTS: Canceled 

DEFENDING 2019 CHAMP: Kevin Sutherland 

TV: Golf Channel 

THE SKINNY: Despite cancellation, the tournament continued to support long-standing charities. 

 

June 11-13, Madison, Wisconsin 

PGA Tour Champions 

AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP 

COURSE: University Ridge Golf Course

2020 RESULTS: Canceled

DEFENDING 2019 CHAMP: Jerry Kelly

TV: Golf Channel 

THE SKINNY: Madison native Jerry Kelly will defend his title after the tournament took a year hiatus due to COVID-19. 

 

July 8-10, French Lick, Indiana 

Symetra Tour 

DONALD ROSS CLASSIC AT FRENCH LICK RESORT 

COURSE: The Donald Ross Course 

2020 RESULTS: Canceled 

DEFENDING 2019 CHAMP: Patty Tavatanakit 

THE SKINNY: 2021 will mark the tournament’s fourth year of play. 

 

July 8-11, Sylvania, Ohio 

LPGA Tour 

MARATHON CLASSIC 

COURSE: Highland Meadows Golf Club 

DEFNDING CHAMP: Danielle Kang 

TV: Golf Channel 

THE SKINNY: Kang rallied from five strokes down with six holes to play. 

 

July 8-11, Silvis, Illinois 

PGA Tour 

JOHN DEERE CLASSIC 

COURSE: TPC Deere Run 

2020 RESULTS: Canceled 

DEFENDING 2019 CHAMP: Dylan Frittelli 

TV: CBS/Golf Channel 

THE SKINNY: His win in 2019 was the first PGA Tour victory for South African Dylan Frittelli. 

 

July 14-17, Midland, Michigan 

LPGA Tour 

DOW GREAT LAKES BAY INVITATIONAL 

COURSE: Midland Country Club 

TV: Golf Channel 

2020 RESULTS: Canceled 

DEFENDING 2019 CHAMPS: Jasmine Suwannapura and Cydney Clanton 

THE SKINNY: Jasmine Suwannapura and Cydney Clanton ran away with the LPGA Tour’s first official team event. 

 

July 15-18, Springfield, Illinois 

Korn Ferry Tour 

LINCOLN LAND CHARITY CHAMPIONSHIP 

COURSE: Panther Creek Country Club 

DEFENDING CHAMP: Brett Drewitt
THE SKINNY: Brett Drewitt, an Australian, posted a one-stroke victory. 

 

July 22-25, Blaine, Minnesota 

PGA Tour 

3M OPEN 

COURSE: TPC Twin Cities 

DEFENDING CHAMP: Michael Thompson 

TV: CBS/Golf Channel 

THE SKINNY: Michael Thompson birdied two of the last three holes to post a two-stroke victory. 

 

Aug. 6-8, Battle Creek, Michigan 

Symetra Tour 

FIREKEEPERS CASINO HOTEL CHAMPIONSHIP 

COURSE: Battle Creek Country Club

DEFENDING CHAMP: Ruixin Liu 

THE SKINNY: China’s Ruixin Liu posted a two- stroke victory. 

 

Aug. 13-15, South Bend, Indiana 

Symetra Tour 

FOUR WINDS INVITATIONAL 

COURSE: South Bend Country Club

DEFENDING CHAMP: Kim Kaufman 

THE SKINNY: The 10th annual invitational moves to South Bend Country Club this year. 

 

Aug. 27-29, Grand Blanc, Michigan 

PGA Tour Champions 

THE ALLY CHALLENGE 

COURSE: Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club

DEFENDING CHAMP: Jim Furyk
TV: Golf Channel 

THE SKINNY: Jim Furyk became the first player since Miquel Angel Jimenez to win his first start on the Champions tour. 

 

Sept. 2-5, Newburgh, Indiana 

Korn Ferry Tour 

UNITED LEASING & FINANCE CHAMPIONSHIP 

COURSE: Victoria National Golf Club 

DEFENDING CHAMP: Brandon Wu 

TV: Golf Channel 

THE SKINNY: Brandon Wu’s one-shot victory was his first on the Korn Ferry Tour. 

 

Sept. 11-13, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 

PGA Tour Champions 

SANFORD INTERNATIONAL 

COURSE: Minnehaha Country Club

DEFENDING CHAMP: Miguel Angel Jimenez

TV: Golf Channel 

THE SKINNY: Miguel Angel Jimenez used an eagle on a par 5 on the back nine during the final round to post a one-shot victory. 

 

Sept. 24-26, Haven, Wisconsin 

PGA 

43RD RYDER CUP 

COURSE: Whistling Straits

DEFENDING CHAMP: Europe

TV: NBC 

THE SKINNY: The 43rd Ryder Cup will try once again after being postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic.