Fans miss out on US Masters
TIGER Woods will have to defend his US Masters golf title behind closed gates after Augusta chiefs admitted the risks caused by the coronavirus in allowing thousands fans to attend “are simply too significant to overcome”.
The US Masters had already been pushed back from its traditional April slot due to the pandemic and will now run from November 12-15.
“As we have considered the issues facing us, the health and safety of everyone associated with the Masters always has been our first and most important priority,” Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley said.
“Ultimately, we determined that the potential risks of welcoming patrons and guests to our grounds in November are simply too significant to overcome.
“Even in the current circumstances, staging the Masters without patrons is deeply disappointing.”
Woods won his fifth US Masters and 15th career major – after a gap off 11 years – at Augusta in 2019.
Up to 40,000 fans usually attend the tournament in Georgia each year.
The decision by Augusta means that all three remaining majors in 2020 will have been played without fans.
The US PGA Championship was behind closed gates in San Francisco last week after being postponed from May.
September’s US Open at Winged Foot in New York, pushed back from June, will also bar spectators.
The year’s other major, the British Open, which was set for Royal St George’s in July, was cancelled altogether.
The Ryder Cup clash between Europe and the US has also been postponed to 2021.