Europe's Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington says the competition will not be held behind closed doors if it goes ahead.
The tournament is scheduled for Whistling Straits in September as the USA look to wrestle the trophy back from European hands following their heavy defeat in Paris two years ago.
With the Covid-19 pandemic casting uncertainty over the competition, the idea of holding the event behind closed doors had been floated.
But Harrington told RTE Radio this afternoon that scenario had been ruled out.
He said: "The absolute 100 per cent consensus is it will not happen behind closed doors.
"The PGA, whose event it is this time around, and the European Tour, both have agreed that spectators are far too important to the event. It will not happen behind closed doors.
"If we could have the match, even if circumstances weren’t 100 per cent perfect in terms of preparation, it would still be a great event on TV.
"The golfing and sporting public would enjoy that release. It would be a sense of normality.
"Again, it's not important in the real world. But it wouldn’t be a bad thing. If they put on a fourth division soccer match from the UK, we’d all sit in and watch it if it’s live. We’re just dying for a bit of sport."
