Before play began, the PGA Tour administered 487 in-market tests without a single positive resultGETTY IMAGES
There were no positive tests for COVID-19 at the Charles Schwab Challenge in the PGA Tour's return to play over the weekend, and Commissioner Jay Monahan "plans to share what the circuit has learned with the other leagues," according to Rex Hoggard of GOLFCHANNEL.com. Monahan said, "I've heard from some of my peers, and I think as I mentioned as we go forward, we will share everything that we've learned and how we're applying our protocols, and I would imagine some of those calls will happen over the next several days." Hoggard noted before play began on Thursday, the PGA Tour "administered 487 in-market tests without a single positive result" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 6/14). Monahan said, "We're all trying to take our own respective sports and make sure that we're doing -- we are prioritizing the health and safety of our athletes and all of our constituents, really that each sport is different. ... I know there's a lot of people that are watching us, and hopefully they're proud of what's been done here" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/15).
NO MAJOR ISSUES: GOLFWEEK's Steve DiMeglio wrote every golfer "quickly adapted to having their temperature taken daily and answering a questionnaire every day." All were "conscious of adhering to social distancing protocols at Colonial and limiting their off-course activity." Monahan said that the PGA Tour "will build on the experience in Texas and make adjustments if need be." He noted that a "sustained return is the goal." Monahan: "This is a phenomenal start to our return. There's no question about it." He added, "To not have had any issues, and for players to adapt to that system so well, and for us as a collective to be focused on what's actually happening inside the field of play, watching competition, I think it's gone about as well as we could have hoped for. I'm proud of our team for that" (GOLFWEEK.com, 6/14). GOLFWEEK's Eamon Lynch wrote there was a "learning curve to be flattened as the week wore on." PGA Tour officials "got snippy with caddies who were deemed insufficiently attentive to the wiping of flagsticks with sanitizing wipes provided." Return snipping "came from swing instructors, who were peeved that the Tour did not include them inside the protective 'bubble' of those tested daily" (GOLFWEEK.com, 6/14). Meanwhile, the Korn Ferry Tour returned to play this weekend with the Korn Ferry Challenge, and in Jacksonville, Garry Smits writes the event "wasn't perfect." Tour officials "had to send a text message reminder to players, caddies and swing coaches to remind them of the social distancing policy" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 6/15).
POSITIVE REACTION: In N.Y., Mark Cannizzaro writes other than the "lack of 25,000 spectators per day and a few good parties in the corporate tents around the grounds, the Charles Schwab Challenge and Colonial Country Club could not have delivered any better this week" (N.Y. POST, 6/15). Golfer Matt Kuchar's caddie, John Wood, said the PGA Tour's return at Colonial was "pretty much an A+ across the board." Wood: "The Tour did a phenomenal job of preparing for each and every eventuality. Testing and safety were the number one priorities, and there were redundancies in place for everything. I couldn't have been more impressed with their preparation" (GOLF.com, 6/14).
NEW CHALLENGES WEEKLY: In Toronto, Jon McCarthy writes the PGA Tour now has to "pack up and move its travelling bubble" to Hilton Head, S.C., for the RBC Heritage. Golf's "great advantage during these times is that it's played outside and is an individual sport, but the disadvantage is that the very nature of a 'tour' means there can be no hub cities so many of the same challenges will be faced anew every week" (TORONTO SUN, 6/15). GOLFWEEK's Lynch wrote the Charles Schwab Challenge "established a baseline for what is needed to stage Tour events." Much of that is "dependent on the particular circumstances in each host city" (GOLFWEEK.com, 6/14). Golfer Collin Morikawa said, "Just because we played one week doesn't mean we can go party and go do everything else like we used to. We still have to follow these guidelines and maintain safety and strict rules with how far we stay from each other because it's still out there" (ESPN.com, 6/14).
