PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan did offer some optimism on the U.S. Open's chances to welcome fansGETTY IMAGES
The USGA has yet to officially make a decision about whether fans will be allowed to attend the U.S. Open in September, but it is "unlikely spectators would be permitted," according to sources cited by Brian Wacker of GOLF DIGEST. A USGA spokesperson said that those in the organization "expect to be in a position to share outcomes with the public as soon as next week." PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan on when fans might return to events said, “We’re doing everything we can to be prepared to have fans at our tournaments, certainly in the final quarter of the year post-Tour Championship. I think as we get into early August and mid-August, then we'll start making some decisions about where we’re going to be, post-Tour Championship, with our events" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 7/15). Monahan offered some optimism on the U.S. Open's chances to welcome fans, saying, "I know that the USGA continues to work with the state of New York and is making plans to return fans. If I had to guess, that would be the first week that we would do so." Meanwhile, the Safeway Open in California -- the first event of the '20-21 season -- yesterday announced that fans "wouldn’t be allowed to attend" the Sept. 10-13 tournament (GOLFWEEK.com, 7/15). Monahan added of fan attendance, “I’m optimistic that by the time we get to the fall hopefully we’ll be in a better place" (“Golf Central,” Golf Channel, 7/15).
WALKING IT BACK: In N.Y., Michael Croley notes in June, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine "approved a plan" for this week's Memorial tournament to "host a limited number of fans -- around 8,000 daily -- but the PGA Tour scuttled it as infection rates climbed." That reversal "forced a logistical pivot at Muirfield." The Memorial staff had "intended to use radio frequency identification technology in the badges distributed to fans, moving attendees through a system of so-called corrals where they could watch the action while a 'patron ambassador' monitored the number of people walking into the space using the technology." Monahan said the plan was "as thorough as it could possibly be." But yesterday he said that he "ultimately decided to proceed without fans after looking at the rate of cases and getting input from players" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/16).
LPGA DECISION COMING SOON: GOLFCHANNEL.com's Randall Mell reported the LPGA "remains prepared to open its gates to fans early in its restart in Ohio." LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan yesterday said that he will "probably know within 48 hours whether the Marathon Classic will allow spectators for tournament rounds Aug. 6-9 at Highland Meadows Golf Club in suburban Toledo." Whan added that if the Marathon Classic gates are "opened to the public, 2,000 or fewer fans would be admitted per day, allowing ample space for social distancing, with an 'aggressive' gallery roping plan" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 7/15).
