Steve Stricker said that there will be no national anthem protesters among Presidents Cup golfers when matches start on Thursday, the Golf Channel reported Tuesday.
The opening ceremony of the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup are two of the few golfing events where the national anthem is played before play begins, the broadcaster noted. Silent protest during the national anthem, such as taking a knee or linking arms, have been a hot topic in the sports world of the past week.
"There were no issues on our part," Stricker, the U.S. captain, said, according to the Golf Channel. "We had a good talk and we all realized that there are things going on in the world that aren't right, but we wanted to show our support for the flag."
Some of the top golfers in the world will participate in the Presidents Cup this weekend, where linksters from the United States take on an international team at the Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City, New Jersey, ESPN noted.
"We have social injustices in this country, and we should all strive to eliminate them," Phil Mickelson, a member of the U.S. team, said, the Golf Channel wrote. "We've made great strides over the years, but we've got a ways to go, and we should all strive to eliminate those.
"But this week, I'm so proud to represent the United States, to play for my country, to play for my teammates and participate in this great event," he continued.
The Associated Press reported that more than 200 NFL players refused to stand for the national anthem Sunday before their football games after President Donald Trump suggested that players should be fired if they did so.
The protest began when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat on the bench and then took a knee during the national anthem before his football games to protest alleged police brutality last football season.
Trump continued to attack the NFL on social media for not stepping in to stop the protests.
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