See you in September? Masters put on hold
Decision throws schedule for 2020 majors into state of flux, writes Jon Mccarthy.
On the heels of the PGA Tour cancelling this week’s Players Championship and suspending its season, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley announced on Friday morning that The Masters has been postponed.
“The ever-increasing risks associated with the widespread Coronavirus COVID-19 have led us to a decision that undoubtedly will be disappointing to many, although I am confident is appropriate under these unique circumstances,” Ridley wrote in a statement. “Considering the latest information and expert analysis, we have decided at this time to postpone the Masters Tournament, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.”
The glimmer of hope golf fans can cling to is that the tournament is being postponed rather than cancelled. No date has been given for rescheduling the tournament, but there is some suggestion of September as a likely option.
“Ultimately, the health and well-being of everyone associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community led us to this decision,” Ridley wrote. “We hope this postponement puts us in the best position to safely host the Masters Tournament and our amateur events at some later date.”
Earlier in the morning on Friday, PGA Tour players were clearing out of TPC Sawgrass after The Players Championship was abruptly cancelled hours after Thursday play ended. Even before the announcement from Augusta National it was becoming apparent that holding the Masters in less than a month was unfeasible.
Austrian golfer Bernd Wiesberger was leaving the golf course, hoping to return home to Europe.
“I’m on the last flight back to Europe,” Wiesberger said on Friday. “The last is going back this afternoon. I’d like to be on that one. I’m pretty sure more travel bans are going to happen for Europe, and it’s going to be a bit crazy, so I’m actually quite fortunate to be able to go back, but it also means that I won’t be able to come back for the Masters, if that’s going to happen. I doubt it, but we’ll see. But you know, decisions have to be made, and I think it’s the only right one.”
World No. 2 Jon Rahm, who can be a fiery competitor on the golf course, had more pressing concerns than the season’s first major.
“I think there’s bigger problems in the world right now than whether we play the Masters or not,” Rahm said. “It’s as simple as that.”
The 25-year-old Spaniard’s thoughts were with those most susceptible to critical illness resulting from coronavirus, including those closest to him.
“I’m pretty scared because there’s quite a bit of people in my family with asthma, and my 85-year-old grandma being one of them, which is a direct target,” Rahm said. “And there’s nothing I can do because I can’t go home, I can’t come back. I guess I’ll just ... all we can try to do is resume our lives as normal and again, try to be as clean as possible, wash our hands.”
The PGA Tour has cancelled all tournaments up to and including the Valero Texas Open in April.
The LPGA is postponing its next three events, including the ANA Inspiration, the season’s first major.
The 2020 major championship golf schedule has been thrown into a state of flux with the news on Friday that April’s Masters has been postponed due to coronavirus fears, leaving the other majors with hard choices to make in the coming weeks.
The May 14-17 PGA Championship at Harding Park in San Francisco would seem to be in doubt, although the PGA of America on Friday only referred to its statement earlier this week which denied a report it was considering moving the event.
“We continue to carefully monitor this rapidly evolving situation, in close co-ordination and communication with representatives from San Francisco,” it said on Tuesday.
“We will follow the guidance of state and city officials and public health authorities, keeping the safety and well-being of all involved as our highest priority.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) said plans were proceeding for the June 18-21 U.S. Open at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y., close to a U.S. epicentre of the coronavirus in New Rochelle.
“Our championship season begins in late April and runs through September ... and as of today, we have not made any decisions to alter this schedule,” the USGA said on Friday.
Further ahead, time is still on the side of the British Open, scheduled to close out the major season at Royal St George’s in Sandwich on the south coast of England from July 16-19.
There seems little need for the R&A to rush into a decision before seeing how the coronavirus pandemic plays itself out.
The Tokyo Olympics are still, at this stage, with the men’s event scheduled from July 30-Aug. 2 and the women paying the following week.
Then there’s the Sept. 25-27 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
Perhaps the biggest question is whether the Masters will be played on a new date, or cancelled altogether.
Augusta National traditionally closes in summer, and playing the tournament in oppressive heat and humidity on grasses better suited to temperate weather would not be ideal.
However, given its status as the most popular major with players and fans alike, the Masters can do whatever it wants.