One source said fans likely would be allowed in time for the Sentry Tournament of ChampionsGETTY IMAGES
PGA Tour officials yesterday unveiled the schedule for the '20-21 season, which will "feature a whopping 50 events," though when fans will be allowed to attend any of those tournaments again "remains unclear," according to Brian Wacker of GOLF DIGEST. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan "didn’t provide much clarity" on the matter. He said, "You may see different tournaments returning at different levels as we get into the end of the year and into '21." Wacker noted many of the tournaments that make up the fall portion of the schedule have "declared they will not have spectators in attendance," including the U.S. Open and the Masters. A source said that the thought is that fans "would almost certainly be allowed at tournaments in time for the Sentry Tournament of Champions on Maui in January, if not sooner" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 9/2).
EQUALITY EFFORTS: Monahan also addressed specific measures the circuit planned to promote diversity and inclusion, saying, "Tournaments are going to be identifying racial and social injustice causes in their local markets going forward." He added, "As you look out over the next 10 years, I think that we would project it to generate at least $100 million for those causes over the next 10 years, and that's something that we're going to hold ourselves accountable to.” Monahan also "outlined a program which would give the top players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities access to Korn Ferry Tour qualifying via the Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour and the PGA Tour University program, as well as financial resources and access to TPC network facilities" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 9/2).
WHAT ABOUT PURSES? GOLFWEEK's Steve DiMeglio reports tournament purses "won't change next year," and "as of now, all of next season’s tournaments are fully funded." Monahan: "I’m proud of the fact that the purses that we play for continue to attract the best players in the world that are allowing us to continue to do that work." He added that tournament organizations, titles sponsors and players have "generated more than $35 million for COVID-related charities" (GOLFWEEK.com, 9/2).
PLAYING WITH THE PEOPLE: ESPN.com's Bob Harig reported the PGA Tour for events that have been played since the scheduled restart is "supplementing them so they can cover their costs and still make charitable contributions." But that model "cannot last forever." Hence, in three weeks, the PGA Tour will "resume having pro-ams at its events." Amateurs "often pay $5,000 or more for the ability to be grouped with pros on the day before a tournament." Money raised through those events represents a "significant portion of a tournament's operating income" (ESPN.com, 9/2).
MODEL TO FOLLOW: In Atlanta, Steve Hummer writes just making it to East Lake for the Tour Championship was a "great victory" for the "entire sport itself." Still, Monahan "was not exactly turning celebratory laps around East Lake" yesterday. He said, “We’re not claiming victory by any stretch. In fact, we continue to learn and adapt. But I’m so proud of the team we put into place in March to help solve this giant jigsaw puzzle." Hummer writes at the restart on June 11 in Texas, "no one could be sure how long any good intention could survive all the uncertainty that accompanies the virus." But pro golf in "some very recognizable form survived, the simple point of it all." Monahan said, "I was confident that we had the right plan, but I was uncertain as to whether or not, like everybody else, you’d be able to get to this point" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 9/3). GOLFCHANNEL.com's Rex Hoggard wrote there have been "no positive tests on Tour since the Barracuda Championship in early August, and year-to-date testing number on Tour (including players and caddies) has moved to 3,591 with 10 positive results." The Tour "endured a few bumps in the road." Now, though, it "stands as a model, which is saying something in a pandemic" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 9/2). Monahan said the players and caddies "deserve all the credit." Monahan: "They took responsibility and ownership of those protocols right from the outset. They were open to the adjustments we made" ("Squawk Box," CNBC, 9/3).
