Roughly 50,000 patrons a day typically roam the grounds during tournament week of the MastersGETTY IMAGES
Augusta National Golf Club said that this year's Masters "will be played without patrons in attendance because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic," according to Ryan Lavner of GOLFCHANNEL.com. Augusta National's decision "increases the likelihood that every tournament the rest of the year will be played without spectators." That has "been the case since the PGA Tour restarted in mid-June." Last week's PGA Championship was "held sans spectators, and the USGA has already said that next month's U.S. Open at Winged Foot will only have essential personnel on-site." Roughly 50,000 patrons a day "roam the grounds during tournament week of the Masters" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 8/12). GOLF DIGEST's Joel Beall writes when ANGC originally announced the tournament's postponement from its traditional April date to Nov. 12-15, Chair Fred Ridley said that he "would welcome 'all existing ticket holders to enjoy the excitement of Masters week,' contingent on favorable counsel and direction from health officials." Unfortunately, the U.S. "has been unable to curb the COVID-19 outbreak, and the tournament's home state of Georgia continues to be a hotspot." All '20 ticket holders "will be guaranteed the same tickets for the 2021 Masters." ANGC "will communicate directly with all ticket holders and 2021 ticket applicants in September" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 8/12).
