LIBERTY CORNER, N.J., and ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (April 1, 2020) – The USGA and The R&A today announced that due to the evolving dynamics of the global COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions to international travel, the 2020 Curtis Cup Match has been postponed. The biennial team competition contested by female amateur golfers has been rescheduled for the summer of 2021 at Conwy Golf Club in Wales, the original host site.
“The decision to postpone this year’s Curtis Cup Match did not come lightly, but based on a number of factors, including guidance from the CDC and restrictions on international travel, we’re confident this is what’s best for the health and safety of our players, staff, fans, and everyone associated with the Match,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director of Championships for the USGA. “We’re extremely appreciative of The R&A and all involved for the quick work and dedication to ensure this competition moves forward next year.”
Sarah Ingram, a three-time U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion (1991, 1993, 1994) and a member of three USA Curtis Cup Teams (1992, 1994 and 1996), will continue as captain of the USA Team. Elaine Ratcliffe, a distinguished amateur player who won the English Amateur Championship and the Finnish Amateur Championship, will remain captain of the Great Britain & Ireland squad. The formal team selection process would have taken place this month.
“It is certainly disappointing anytime you have to postpone something you are so actively looking forward to, but when we take our team to the Match, we want to be able to focus on competition and camaraderie, rather than have to worry about health and safety,” said Ingram. “I feel for the players who have worked so hard these last two years and share in the disappointment they surely feel that the Curtis Cup will not be contested this June. Despite the delay, we will be ready and eager to have the experience of a lifetime.”
The Curtis Cup Match is contested by two teams of eight female amateur players, one from the United States of America and one from Great Britain and Ireland, which is comprised of England, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The USGA’s International Team Selection Committee selects the USA Team, while The R&A selects the GB&I Team. The USA Team leads the overall series, 29-8-3.
About the USGA
The USGA is a nonprofit organization that celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. With The R&A, we govern the sport via a global set of playing, equipment, handicapping and amateur status rules. The USGA campus in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, is home to the Association’s Research and Test Center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more, visit usga.org.
