PGA TOUR recently announced the rescheduling of some major events due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, the golf body spoke about the cancellation of the Open Championship. However, they’ve moved the dates for the three remaining major championships.
The first golf event for this year, which is the PGA Championship, will be held in August 6-9. Meanwhile, the US Open will take place from the 17th to the 20th of September.
FedEx Cup Playoffs have been pushed back a week—it will start on the 10th of August. The Masters has been postponed to Nov 12 – 15. That’s not all; the Ryder Cup is the only golf tournament that hasn’t been moved, as it will still hold on Sept 25 – 27.
The changes were announced on Monday after the R&A first released a statement in the morning that it was canceling the British Open at Royal St. George’s in July. That is coming after Wimbledon was abandoned last week, however both events are said to have insurance policies that cover pandemics, such as coronavirus. The last time the sporting event experienced a significant cancellation was back in 1945 during World War II.
Changes seem uncertain given the unknowns with public safety
The current coronavirus pandemic has left a deep hole in the sporting world. What this implies is that golf lovers will have to wait additional months to watch their favorite sporting events. President Trump recently met with the commissioners of all the major sports leagues on Saturday. As we speak, we don’t know when sports will return, but he told reporters that it would be “sooner rather than later.”
“I want fans back in the arenas whenever we’re ready and as soon as we can. The fans want to be back. They want to see basketball and baseball and football and hockey. They want to see their sports. They want to go out on the golf courses and breathe nice, clean, beautiful fresh air. I can’t tell you a date [when sports will start again], but I think it’s going to be sooner rather than later,” President Trump explained.
Outright cancellation of events until further notice is possible
PGA TOUR’s announcement of set dates could have a ripple effect on the tour. Outright cancellation of the events is not impossible if there is no semblance of a light at the end of the tunnel. The PGA TOUR commissioner, Jay Monahan, described the rescheduling as a complicated situation due to the uncertainty we all face day by day with scheduling and public safety. Hopefully, things will get back to normal very soon.
Also read: Stay Fit While Distancing as a Golfer