NOVEMBER REIGN: HOPE FOR MASTERS

GOLF:

An extraordinary Masters in November at Augusta National could cap a triumphant return for golf as organisers look to squeeze in the four majors at the end of the year.

That’s the hope of Ian Baker-Finch, who says there is merit in speculation that the US Open, British Open, PGA Championship and Masters could be staged in that order during a three-month span starting at the end of August, if circumstances allow.

In normal times, golf fans would be eagerly anticipating a spectacular start to the majors season next week, with Tiger Woods defending the Masters he won last year.

British Open winner Baker-Finch says golf’s biggest events can still be played in 2020 and provide fans welcome relief.

The PGA Championship, which was to be in mid-May at San Francisco’s TPC Harding

Park, was also postponed. Officials are yet to make an announcement on the US Open (mid-June) and British Open (mid-July).

“When golf returns, there is a real opportunity to be so appreciative of what we’ve missed. It will be a really exciting time,” said Baker-Finch, a pundit for US network CBS, the TV rights-holder for the Masters.

Australian world No.15 Marc Leishman, who won on the PGA Tour in January, says it would be special to contest such a rare edition of the Masters.

“November would be awesome and it would be very different, visually,” said Leishman, who owns two top-10 results from seven Masters’ appearances. “They can get the greens super quick at that time of year and the course, honestly, could be in even better condition than April.”

Evin Priest