Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell believes this year’s clash with the US should be postponed unless a viable tournament schedule can be put together leading up to it.
Professional golf on both sides of the Atlantic has been shut down until late May and the qualification process frozen.
And McDowell, who sank the winning putt at Celtic Manor in 2010, feels the Ryder Cup should not be top of the list when it comes to redrawing the season.
“The Major championships take priority over the Ryder Cup,” said McDowell.
“It’s only going to be a viable opportunity if we feel good about the qualifying process and we feel the teams are legitimate.”
The Ryder Cup is scheduled to take place at Whistling Straits in the United States from September 25 to 28.
Meanwhile, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, which is due to start in Mount Juliet on May 28 is the next European Tour event still standing.
McDowell is due to host the event this year but admitted: "We are already talking about a reduced-type staging if the Irish Open goes ahead at all.
"We just have to prepare the best we can, have a contingency plan if it looks like we can execute the tournament.
"If not, I will be extremely disappointed not to be able to host an Irish Open with the Open champion Shane Lowry, the number one player in the world in Rory McIlroy and the Ryder Cup captain Pádraig Harrington, Jon Rahm and others.
"It's a phenomenal opportunity, and I will be really disappointed if I don't get that opportunity.
"But there are so many more important things right now than that, and we have to hope for the best and get the world back on its feet again, keep people safe and worry about the Irish Open in due course."
