NOT PAR FOR THE COURSE
British Open out, Masters moves to November in year like no other
The 2020 British Open was officially canceled Monday, but the American golf calendar is still acting like a post-coronavirus return will be possible.
The plan includes a fan-free Memorial in June, the PGA championship in August, the U.S. Open in September, and the Masters in November. The PGA, USGA and Masters announced the reschedulings on Monday. The U.S. Open, originally set for June at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, is now set for September 1720.
The Masters, which was supposed to go on this week, was postponed indefinitely in March.
Now the year will have at most three majors, compressed into just three months. The final two will have their final day go up against NFL games — if professional golf and football are being played at that point.
The R&A, which was supposed to put on the British Open in late July in England, announced the cancellation in a statement.
“We appreciate that this will be disappointing for a great many people around the world, but this pandemic is severely affecting the U.K. and we have to act responsibly,” chief executive Martin Slumbers said. “I can assure everyone that we have explored every option for playing the Open this year, but it is not going to be possible.”
The 2021 Open, originally planned for St. Andrews in Scotland — will be played at Royal St. George’s, and the 2022 Open will be at St Andrews.
The U.K. is being ravaged by the coronavirus. Nearly 5,000 people there have died. Prime minister Boris Johnson was hospitalized over the weekend and placed into intensive care on Monday.
It was the first cancellation of the British Open since 1945, during World War II.
Golf Digest reported last week that the Open was likely to be canceled while the three American majors were postponed because the British Open has “complete cancellation insurance.” The magazine also reported Monday the PGA Tour and American majors are hoping to return from the pandemic as soon as June.
But resuming professional sports this year will be a tall order. While golf would likely be the easiest sport to play while complying with social distancing, there is still not nearly enough mass testing to make sure every player, caddie and official is clear of the virus.
The PGA is scheduled for San Francisco and the U.S. Open in New York; both places have locked down most gatherings and public life. Georgia’s governor has not really locked down that state at all.
“We want to emphasize that our future plans are incumbent upon favorable counsel and direction from health officials,” Augusta chairman Fred Ridley said.