LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan opened Part 1 of SBJ: The Road Ahead Virtual Series today by saying he is confident in the circuit's ability to test players, caddies and others in the sport. The tour gets back on the course later this month with back-to-back events in Northwest Ohio, and Whan said, “I can't imagine there being a healthier group because if somebody is unhealthy in our group, we'll know it pretty quickly." However, Whan did acknowledge there are no guarantees: “I cannot in today's world provide an environment where there's zero risk and we're going to have a positive test or two.” The LPGA was lauded for its decision to allow golfers to keep their tour status for ’21 no matter how much of the abbreviated schedule they play. Whan: “If this isn't for you, whether its health-wise, concerns-wise, your family-wise, where you live -- it won't affect you.”
Observing the PGA Tour’s return to action has certainly been helpful for the LPGA. “We got to walk through our protocol while they were building their protocol,” Whan said. “Watching what they've had to deal with these first few weeks has been good for us.” Whan knows this year won’t be a success financially for anyone, so he wants to make sure he keeps the LPGA’s priorities in perspective. “I won't mortgage the future to make 2020 look better,” he said.
Meanwhile, today the LPGA, together with Golf Canada and title-sponsor Canadian Pacific, announced that the CP Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver has been postponed until '21.
