Golf ban leads to threat at top club
● ‘I just want to get back out and play’ says world No 1 as Tour prepares to resume
A greenkeeper has been verbally abused and physically threatened by a golfer at one of Edinburgh’s premier clubs.
The employee was targeted at Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club by a golfer who was practising on a putting green despite the sport’s ban in Scotland.
Manager Melanie Dobie described the behaviour as “totally unacceptable”.
The manager of one of the top golf clubs in Edinburgh has expressed shock at a greenkeeper being “threatened” by a golfer.
The incident happened yesterday at Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club in the heart of the city.
Like all courses in Scotland, it remains closed due to the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
But, in common with a number of venues across the city, it has seen frustrated golfers starting to turn up, mainly to practise, without permission.
“We have been advised this morning of an incident which has just occurred at the course,” Merchants club manager Melanie Dobie said in an email to members.
“A member of our green staff, while carrying out his duties, was threatened by a golfer. This individual, who claimed to be a member, was practising on the putting green at the first tee and our green staff told him the course and all practice facilities were closed and he should refrain from playing.
“Our staff member was then verbally abused and physically threatened by a club. This behaviour is totally unacceptable and no one should have to experience this when carrying out their duties.”
The incident came a few
Rory Mcilroy, who had already signed up for a charity event that is effectively testing the water as top-level golf prepares to return from the coronavirus lockdown, is now set to play in the first three tournaments on the revised PGA Tour schedule.
In an interview with the Golf Channel, the world No 1 revealed he plans to tee up in the US circuit’s return to action with the Charles Schab Challenge in Texas on 11-14 June, as well as the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina and the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut the following two weeks.
“I just want to get back out and play,” said Mcilroy, speaking ahead of Sunday’s Taylormade Driving Relief, a skins match supported by Unitedhealth Group, in which the four-time major winner will team up with Dustin Johnson against Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff at the exclusive Seminole Golf Club in Florida.
“That’s my plan, play the first three. I think it will be nice to get back out and play. Obviously we’re going to have to take as many precautions as possible to be able to put Tour events on again,butithinkthepgatour has got a very robust plan in place, and if they can execute it the right way, I see no reason why we can’t start 11 June. If we do, I’ll be ready to go in Fort Worth.”
It will be Mcilroy’s first appearance in that particular event, while he has only played once at Hilton Head and that was early in his professional career in 2009. His two appearances in the Travelers Championship have been more recent, playing in both 2017 and 2018.
“You have to be ready to go,” said the recently-turned 31-year-old, who has been out of action since the game went into lockdown at the top level following the cancellation of the Players Championship at Sawgrass after the first round exactly two months ago.
“You know, stay sharp. Stay ready. I sort of joked a little bit at the start of this whole thing, saying, ‘well, guys wanted an offseason. Well, now’s your offseason’. It’s pedal to the metal to the end of the year to try to get as much golf in as possible. I personally am looking forward to that, if it can happen.
“I miss the competition. I miss the buzz of getting into contention and playing in those last few groups on a Sunday and really feeling that. I also miss the locker room. I miss being around people. I miss the banter that goes on in the locker rooms and the camaraderie that people don’t see.”
Mcilroy, who returned to world No 1 in February for the first time in five years, added: “I’m eager to play again and I’ll play as much as necessary to give myself a chance to win tournaments and keep myself at the top of the world ranking. I was playing pretty well when this all happened in March (his last seven starts all resulted in top-five finishes), so I would like to just really pick up where I left off. That would be nice.”
Brooks Koepka, the world
“It’s pedal to the metal totheendoftheyear totrytogetasmuch golf in as possible. I personally am looking forward to that, if it can happen”
RORY MCILROY
No 3, has also entered the Fort Worth event, as have four other players in the world’s top ten – Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson and Tommy Fleetwood.
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● The Champions Tour has announced that its tournaments in 2020 and 2021 will combine to form one season, meaning the next Charles Schwab Cup champion will be crowned 12 months’ late in November 2021.
The decision follows eight tournaments on the 2020 schedule for over-50s already being cancelled, with a decision on the Senior Open, already postponed in July at Sunningdale, believed to be imminent.
● Former European Tour player and now Sky Sports analyst Tony Johnstone has been welcomed as an official ambassador for EDGA, the international body that encourages people with disability to thrive through golf.