The 34th Ryder Cup, postponed following last week's terrorist attacks in America, will be played at The Belfry near Birmingham between 27-29 September 2002.

The decision to postpone the event this year was taken after a number of players from the United States team voiced their concerns over safety.

The European Tour also announced the following Ryder Cups will be played in even years: Oakland Hills Country Club, Michigan in 2004; The K Club, Ireland in 2006 and Valhalla Golf Club, Kentucky two years later.

"The European Ryder Cup Board wishes to acknowledge the superb and immediate response of the Irish Government and The K Club in agreeing to stage the matches in 2006," said a spokesman.

Europe's Ryder Cup committee are set to discuss whether they should put back the 2009 event by one year. The venue has yet to be decided upon.

Ticket holders are to be offered a full refund or tickets for the rescheduled contest.

The European Ryder Cup Board announced on Thursday that individual holders of day and season tickets for will be contacted in the near future.

They will be asked to respond within 90 days and indicate their choice of a refund or replacement tickets.

The rescheduled event will feature the same 24 players who would have played next week and the same two captains, Sam Torrance for Europe and Curtis Strange for the Americans.