British Open canceled for the first time since World War II

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

Golf

British Open canceled for the first time since World War II

By Cindy Boren and Matt Bonesteel
April 6, 2020 at 10:45 a.m. EDT

With “a heavy heart,” British Open officials announced the cancellation of the 2020 tournament, following in the footsteps of Wimbledon officials who canceled the tennis tournament because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“It is with a heavy heart that we have to cancel The Open for the first time since World War II,” officials said in a statement. “We appreciate that this will be disappointing for a great many people, but we have to act responsibly during this pandemic and it is the right thing to do.”

One of golf’s majors, the tournament was set to begin July 16 at Royal St. George’s Golf Club just outside London; Wimbledon had been scheduled for June 29 to July 12 in London. The tournament last was canceled in 1945, because of World War II.

It will be contested next year at Royal St. George’s.

{snip}

Cindy Boren arrived at The Post in 2000 as an assignment editor in charge of baseball and NFL/Redskins coverage. She switched to full-time writing, focusing on national sports stories and issues, when she founded The Early Lead blog in 2010. Follow

Matt Bonesteel spent the first 17 years of his Washington Post career writing and editing. In 2014, Bonesteel pivoted from the newspaper to online and now he blogs for the Early Lead and other Web-based products owned by The Post. Follow

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/04/06/british-open-canceled-first-time-since-world-war-ii/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. If the British Open had been scheduled to take place at Turnberry,

Trump would be focused on keeping the tournament viable instead of hawking unproven medical therapy.

[Denzil_DC]

3. Trump's record of public racism meant that Turnberry was taken out of the running for any Open.

Donald Trump's Turnberry golf club to no longer host The Open tournament amid anger over controversial remarks

When Donald Trump bought the famous Turnberry golf club in Ayrshire last year, he believed his name would soon be cemented alongside the legends of the game.

But his dream of handing over the trophy at The Open is in tatters, The Independent on Sunday can reveal, after golf’s governing body, headquartered in Scotland, privately decided that his reputation is now so toxic that the newly renamed Trump Turnberry can no longer host the game’s most prestigious tournament.

Controversial remarks made by Mr Trump in his campaign for the Republican nomination – about Muslims, Mexicans, Chinese and women, among others – have given him a near-pariah status in the global game, raising the risk of a boycott by sponsors and international players.

Previously, the new chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Martin Slumbers, had been expected to endorse Turnberry as a venue for the 2020 Open.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/donald-trumps-turnberry-golf-club-to-no-longer-host-the-open-tournament-amid-anger-over-a6771086.html

[DonaldsRump]

5. I didn't know about this

Thank you for bringing this up to remind us how effectively everyone except the Deplorables understands (and understood) how awful Trump really is. Astonishing how wise they were way back in December 2015!

This smirking idiot's picture from that article says it all:

?w660

[DUar17]

7. LOL, I had read that as Turdberry....

I re-read it multiple times and finally got it.

[IronLionZion]

2. This is World War III

The enemy is a virus

[Initech]

14. And it is literally destroying and ruining all of our lives.

It must be destroyed.

[yellowdogintexas]

4. Checking the PGA schedule every day to see if Schwab Invitational has been cancelled

or delayed. Fort Worth's economy is boosted to the tune of $40 million by this tournament.

For the past 3 tournaments, I have had a sweet temporary job so I hope the tournament goes forward. It is currently still on the PGA schedule - today.

[mnhtnbb]

6. Looked at the dates May 18-24 and I would guess it will be cancelled.

I had tickets for the annual Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC scheduled May 22-June 7. They put out their cancellation notice almost two weeks ago.

[yellowdogintexas]

9. I agree. The Byron Nelson in Dallas is 2 weeks prior and was

cancelled at least 3 weeks ago. The next stop on the tour has been postponed and so far Schwab (known locally as "The Colonial" ) is still on the list.

It all depends on when the mayor of Ft W and the County Judge decide to lift the crowd limitations. I'm trying to visualize the gallery all standing 6 feet apart as they go around the course..

We are still in a holding pattern, circling the landing strip so to speak

[nitpicker]

8. I think it's about the same probability as my being a pollworker in June

NADA. Zip. NO WAY (unless a miracle happens).

I volunteered for years at my local event. There is always a major medical presence there. (e.g. must ensure the PGA golfer doesn't expire on the course, nor a golf ball victim)).

The medics almost certainly will still be tied up in late May with not only CV even if post-peak, but with everyone whose health declined because they wouldn't/ couldn't get other health conditions taken care of during the crisis (even if a magic pill shows up by the start of May).

Golf? Schmalf.

Edit:
I discovered via Golfweek the PGA is making noises about trying to get restarted at the Schwab. BUT IMO, I think they are looking at weekend reporting rates.
(1) Let's see what TX reported rate increases are, say next TH over W. If it's anywhere close To 10% or over, the stake is NOT driven thru CV's heart yet.
(2) And would overseas players be willing to come to the US with no certainty about playing, being able to return home, etc??

(3) And MOST IMPORTANTLY:
The logistics. IF the players were willing to play "behind closed doors", all that would need to be erected would be the stuff done in the early 1980s (the TV towers, the blimp, the on-course TV cams) plus such modern things as shottracker technology.

BUT it takes MONTHS for the "roadies" to set up for a full-scale tournament.

((I know I was Xd when the 2012 derecheo messed up Congressional...))

[yellowdogintexas]

10. we also have major medical presence. The major issue is usually heatstroke

because it can be beastly hot here at the end of May.

My thoughts were "restarting" the tour with this tournament was probably the plan.

The Byron Nelson in Dallas is now cancelled; it was still on the postponed list a few days ago. Byron Nelson and Colonial are normally played back to back. Some of the big tournaments are wrapped around to the end of summer (currently) There are 2 slots in June and July that are still open but damn! it'll be hot. The folks checking in with me will be close to heatstroke for sure; I am very glad my venue is inside the clubhouse.. I think I will stock a cooler full of damp towels nearby in case they are needed.

The last correspondence I received indicated everything is in a holding pattern, so I am just leaving everything in limbo for now. I do hope we have the tournament even if it is postponed; it is one of the highlights of my year.

This is an invitational, with about 200 on the list, so there could be a decent field in terms of size without overseas players.

Yesterday 189 new cases were identified in Texas; I was actually expecting more

[Aristus]

11. If the British Open isn't open, shouldn't they call it something else?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

12. Elementary, Doctor Watson

Source: https://laughingsquid.com/sherlock-holmes-and-doctor-watson-pursue-a-mysterious-bride-in-the-new-christmas-special/

[Initech]

13. The POS virus stirkes again!