First Major Championship of the year to be played without fans
“It was definitely strange playing with no fans, but you can still feel the pressure; you still can feel how important a golf tournament it is when you’re coming down the stretch. To me it felt the same, whether it was a million fans or zero.”
These were the words of Dustin Johnson after he wrapped up victory at the 2020 Travelers Championship, and with the recent announcement that the 2020 USPGA Championship at TPC
Harding Park (August 6-9) will be staged behind closed doors, they suggest the first Major of the year will be engrossing irrespective of fan involvement.
There’s no question it will be odd to see one of the biggest events on the golfing calendar with no fans, but it’s something we should be used to by now. Some say it will dampen the excitement, which may be more pertinent in a Major, but there are several interesting facets to it.
Does it suit the top players because they have no crowds around them for once? Does it benefit outsiders more, because even if they are paired with Tiger or Rory, there is no pressure of playing in front of a huge gallery? Does it benefit players who are more stoic and calm on the course and hinder those who feed off the crowd?
Questions abound, but one thing that’s certain is the quality of the course, which has hosted WGCS and the 2009 Presidents Cup. Even with no fans, we can’t wait for 2020’s first Major.