Earlier this week, there was talk floating around Ponte Vedra Beach that Arnold Palmer cardigan-wearing, driver-crushing, protein shake-chugging, rules-arguing, Kyle Berkshire-admiring, U.S. Open-winning Bryson DeChambeau might find a new way to play the difficult 18th hole at the Stadium Course this week at The Players Championship.
Even Bryson mused with the idea of hitting his drive over on the ninth hole to have an easy shot into the 18th green. “I’ll probably give it a try (going down the ninth hole in a practice round), but it’s most likely not going to happen,” DeChambeau said yesterday. “I haven’t seen it yet, but if there’s stands there there’s no reason to go for it, when I could just drive it 100 yards from the green if I get a good wind normally. It’s not really that big of an advantage, but taking the water out of play and having an easier second shot, it may be easier, I don’t know.”
The PGA Tour made sure it won’t happen as the Tour, on Tuesday, installed an internal OB left of the large lake at 18.
End of story.
Canadian Open Cancelled:
Just when you thought COVID-related cancellations were over, there’s another one.
The 2021 RBC Canadian Open has been cancelled due to the country’s COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The event was scheduled to be played June 10-13 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Ontario and PGA Tour officials said in a statement they plan to “fill the week left open on the calendar” with an event on an “alternative venue” in the United States. “Even with an extensive health and safety plan in place, we faced a number of significant logistical challenges that led us to this decision,” said Tyler Dennis, the Tour’s chief of operations. “We look forward to the RBC Canadian Open returning to our schedule next year.”
Tour Testing Protocols Will Remain In Place:
The PGA Tour has been a stickler for COVID-19 testing for players and on-site staffers. There will be no change in that policy, at least for now.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said Tuesday that he envisions the circuit’s weekly COVID-19 testing program will continue for the “foreseeable future” as the world continues to ramp up its vaccinations efforts.
“We will continue to provide testing for the foreseeable future,” said Tour Commish Jay Monahan (aka The Sheriff Of Nottingham). “Hopefully, as we get to a high percentage of our players that have been vaccinated, we can start to pull back from the program that we know it as of today. It’s hard to determine when that will be, but clearly we see light at the end of the tunnel.”
Monahan said that players are “eager” to be vaccinated, but that there is no mandate in place.
