Agents hint at Ryder cancellation

The future of this month's Ryder Cup has been thrown into doubt again after the manager of leading American players Phil Mickelson…

The future of this month's Ryder Cup has been thrown into doubt again after the manager of leading American players Phil Mickelson and Mark Calcavecchia claimed their safety could not be guaranteed in the wake of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Steve Loy said that his clients were not worried about flying to Britain for the event but were worried about security at The Belfry.

The Americans have already said that they will not travel unless all 12 members of the team agreed to do so.

"To be frank about it, a golf tournament would be an easy place to commit mass murder, no matter how tight the security," said Loy.

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"My players want to take part in the Ryder Cup but they have to put their families first. If I were a gambling man I'd wager that the tournament is not going to take place," he told The Sunday Times.

Loy's view was supported by Andrew Chandler, who managers Europe's Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley.

"I think it's unlikely to go ahead now. The Americans have to be fully committed to taking part and I don't think they would be against that backdrop." he said.

"There is no way Tiger Woods' safety can be guaranteed against people who don't care about killing themselves. In the middle of a fairway he's just too vulnerable."

The American Professional Golfers' Association will take the advice of the US State Department before making a decision on participation in the Ryder Cup.

PA