The PGA Tour has what it needs to get back in action on June 11 in Fort Worth.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Monday that professional sports would be allowed in his state beginning May 31, with the caveat of no spectators.
The Tour is scheduled to resume play at the Charles Schwab Challenge on June 11 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The first practice round that week would be June 8.
“As we open up, we must continue to put safety first and foremost,” Abbott said in his statement.
One of the positives to come from more than three months of play stoppage is that the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial may have one of its best fields in recent history.
World’s No. 1, Rory McIlroy said he’ll play in this and the following two events to get back in action. Same for No. 3 Brooks Koepka. No. 5 Dustin Johnson has committed to play as well as seventh-ranked Patrick Reed.
“Overall, the majority of the guys are ready. It’s time to go play golf, time to go to work, and everybody’s excited about it and the field shows who’s ready to get after it,” said Ryan Palmer, a Colonial member.
There was other good news for golf as well. Other state governors are opening things up.
The PGA Championship, the first of three majors in the re-vamped schedule, will be held at Harding Park in San Francisco. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced an impending return for pro sports in his state in “early June or so” as long as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to decline.
Even New York Governor Andrew Cuomo may be ready to jump on board. Cuomo didn’t announce an exact target date but he did say, “Hockey, basketball, baseball, football – whoever can reopen – we’re a ready, willing and able partner.”
The U.S. Open is scheduled for Sept. 17-20 at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York.
4 Comments
baxter cepeda
Adam Scott is Leading the charge not to go back to work, which is expected considering his long layoffs and the stance he took on Zika and the Rio Olympics.
But giving himself 7 more weeks off is a strong statement — even from Scottie — that the tour is rushing back to income at the expense of health and safety.
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Imo the pga tour missed an opportunity to go into an extended silly season by hosting many events similar to the Taylormade thing and the Match; using just a few big names and local favorites to create fun made for tv competitions.
All these small events run by the Pga tour could have continued giving to fight the virus; While keeping tv revenue flowing for the tour; all without needing 1000+ people on site each week.
What we know is Most golf tv coverage is focused on 2 to 4 groups, anyway, so why risk bringing out 150 guys the next 4 weeks; most of which no one will ever see hit a shot. And really no one cares if they do.
I’m not saying do this forever but another month or two until some fans can enter the gates would have been just as welcomed by fans with 95% less risk by my count.
We know the tour and it’s Tv partners tour can run these small events with less than 50 people.
The only question Would be if Adam Scott would do one of these 4 player special events?
I wouldn’t bet on it.
If we know one thing in life is that Adam Scott does NOT mess around when it comes to weird new illness.
I criticized Adam for Rio. But ironically Adam and i are likeminded on this one. Everyone has to appreciate his consistency on health and safety.
With all due respect to Rory, Adam is being the real leader right now by just staying home.
Tom Edrington
At some point we simply must go back out; Here in Tampa we’re moving hard towards normal; Our state schools are planning on having students back on campus in the fall, football programs will have their guys in camp early June. Staying at home should be optional; Adam has enough money to stay at home for the rest of his life…..simple as that. I’ve been very busy through all of this; Our gyms just re-opened this week, I’ll wait until they have less people in there. I’ve always avoided large crowds for a LONG time; spent my sports writing days in the midst of huge crowds at big events; But it’s time to get on with life; There are been deaths; There are millions of deaths every year; you have a better chance of getting seriously injured in a car crash then getting seriously ill from this virus; There are risks to most everything we do in life.
baxter cepeda
Sure but you said it yourself Tom,
You are avoiding following half the people in Tampa on the bench press. But surely you are driving plenty.
I feel bad for gyms, Many people never wanted to spend much time in one of those anyway.
Now most people won’t even take that free month they can never cancel.
Tom Edrington
Fortunately, when you get old enough, Medicare’s Silver Sneakers pays for your gym membership!!