PGA Tour to finish season with no
spectators amid COVID-19
Send a link to a friend
[July 14, 2020]
(Reuters) - The PGA Tour will
conduct the rest of its season without fans after the circuit's
three playoff events announced on Monday that they will be contested
without spectators due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
In three separate statements, The Northern Trust in Norton
Massachusetts, BMW Championships in Olympia Fields, Illinois and
Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia all confirmed the events would
be closed to the general public.
The decisions by the three tournaments, which determine the season's
champion, follow similar announcements from the other remaining PGA
Tour events on the circuit's revamped schedule.
"These decisions are never easy, and we would like to thank the city
of Atlanta and PGA Tour headquarters for their extensive
collaboration as we arrived at what was the best decision for all
involved," said Allison Fillmore, executive director of the Tour
Championship.
PGA Tour Chief Tournaments and Competitions Officer Andy Pazder said
in a statement along with the BMW Championship's decision that: "Our
No. 1 priority remains the health and safety of everyone in the
communities where we are invited."
"We would like to thank the State of Massachusetts and PGA Tour
headquarters for their guidance and support as we arrived at what
was the best decision for all involved in The Northern Trust," said
tournament executive director Julie Tyson.
The PGA Tour's playoffs are scheduled to begin Aug. 20-23 at TPC
Boston for The Northern Trust, followed by the Aug. 27-30 BMW
Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club and Sept. 4-7 Tour
Championship at East Lake Golf Club.
[to top of second column] |
Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa walk to the 18th green on the
second playoff hole of the final round of the Workday Charity Open.
Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY
NETWORK
This week's Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio will mark the sixth
consecutive PGA Tour event held without spectators since the circuit
swung back into action in mid-June after a three-month COVID-19
hiatus.
The tournament, which begins on Thursday, was originally supposed to
be the first since the break to have spectators last week the PGA
Tour scrapped those plans.
The U.S. Open and Masters, which not managed by the PGA Tour, have
not yet announced whether fans will be present at the two majors.
This year's British Open has been cancelled and the PGA Championship
will be closed to the general public.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|