PGA Tour plans to resume in June with (first four) tournaments behind closed doors

[nitpicker]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/52315245

PGA Tour plans to resume in June with tournaments behind closed doors

8 hours ago

The PGA Tour has announced plans to resume in June with the first four tournaments played behind closed doors.

The Tour has been suspended since 12 March because of the global coronavirus pandemic that has halted all golf.

The Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas is scheduled to be the first tournament back on 11-14 June.

“Our hope is to play a role – responsibly – in the world’s return to enjoying the things we love,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.

The golfing calendar has been severely disrupted because of the Covid-19 outbreak, with The Open Championship cancelled and the three other men's majors rescheduled.

The RBC Heritage is due to be the second tournament back from 18-21 June - the original dates for the US Open, which has been moved to September.

The Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands is next from 25-28 June, followed by the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit GC from 2-5 July.

The Memorial Tournament, originally scheduled for 4-7 June, will now take place from 16-19 July, which is when the 149th Open Championship was due to be held at Royal St George's in Kent.
(snip)

In what could be a confusing summer and autumn, the PGA Tour will end its 2019-20 season and start the next one, with two of this year's men's majors still to be played.

The reorganised calendar will see the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational take place at the end of July, a week before the first men's major of the year, the PGA Championship (6-9 August).

The final two weeks in August will see the start of the three events that make up the FedEx Cup Play-offs, with the season-ending Tour Championship taking place from 4-7 September.

The 2020-21 season starts the following week, but the US Open slots in from 17-20 September with the biennial Ryder Cup between the US and Europe the following week as originally scheduled, and the delayed Masters slated for 12-15 November.
(snip)

[underpants]

1. Not surprised they are the first back

The PGA Tour statement added: "At this time, the Tour plans to resume play with the first four events closed to the general public but will continue to monitor the situation and follow the recommendations of local and state authorities in order to determine the most appropriate on-site access in each market.

"As such, the Tour will continually review available Covid-19-related protocols that could be implemented at PGA Tour events to ensure the health and well-being for all involved."

[nitpicker]

4. For some, broadcasts work better

If they just want to follow the leaders as they emerge. It is easier that way. (Plus reruns of Joe Journeyman making an ace.)

BUT:
There is a semi masochistic pleasure to being perched above a hole all day, trying not to get sunburnt with the sun shining straight in the face most of the day, seeing a rare eagle, a most improbable par from the water (as Payne Stewart got Andrew Magee to shed shoes and socks and try to emulate Stewart's plus-fours), trying to help when Bobby Wadkins lost his ball and the tournament, etc.

Or the vignettes on other tours such as an LPGA golfer giving a kid a ball ((so almost unknown on the other circuits)), Palmer Almost making a birdie on a (then) Senior Tour hole and a spectator being excited that Palmer's shadow touched him, etc.

[gibraltar72]

2. The rich mans sport whoopee.

[nitpicker]

3. I really don't know how feasible it will be to do this

Even without the crews of roadies that usually work on setting up tournaments well in advance.

The schedule:

Fort Worth

Hilton Head

(near Hartford CT)

Detroit

I know the PGA Tour historically relies on a lot of what I call "volunpayers" which is one of the reasons Tour stops are usually around major metropolitan centers.

However, the Travelers venue is surrounded by the Great NYC-Boston hotspot area, the DFW area also has many cases...

And Detroit?? Only 12K cases in the Detroit/Wayne area, 10K more in surrounding counties?

Only Hilton Head makes some sense in remoteness from epicenters.

I honestly don't know how the Tour will manage this. Maybe drive players' motorhomes on a circuit "leave Sunday evening, arrive Tuesday and park in the course parking lots, practice Wednesday, play four days, rinse recycle repeat"?

But let's see if this will be feasible at all.

[underpants]

5. Yeah it takes a lot of people

Just at the course. I worked on a PGA course grounds crew for a PGA event. There’s a lot of work that goes into it. Now a lot was for managing and herding the crowd but the course itself has to be to a really high standard.