Former Team Europe captain Darren Clarke says he wouldn't want to play in a Ryder Cup without fans in attendance.

This year's team event could be staged behind closed doors at Whistling Straits in September due to social distancing restrictions.

Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka have called for the competition to be pushed back until 2021 but the European Tour say it's still set to be played this year.

"Would I want to play in a Ryder Cup without fans? No chance," former Open champion Clarke told the McKellar Golf Podcast. "They make the event. It wouldn't be the same for me, but that's just me.

"I thrived on both the atmosphere of the home support and indeed in going up against the opposition fans," Clarke added. "That's what makes the Ryder Cup so incredibly special and I know some guys are saying play it and others at saying don't play it.

"I think playing it without the fans, especially for the guys for which it would be their first Ryder Cup, it would just be nowhere near the same level of pressure, or fun, or just being able to revel in the whole thing.

"If there's no fans then my personal opinion would be that they should postpone it until such a time that they can have fans in attendance."