Some golfers feel having galleries at the tournament will be safe and bring energy to the courseVivint Houston Open
PGA Tour players are "still adhering to all the COVID protocols" as they prepare for this week's Vivint Houston Open, but they are "thrilled to have fans back" this week, according to Golf Channel's Lisa Cornwell. The Houston Open will allow 2,000 fans per round, becoming the largest crowds on Tour since the shutdown began in March. Players feel that having galleries is both "going to be extremely safe and bring a ton of energy to the tournament.” Fans attending the event will be "following those COVID-19 protocols," as they will "answer questions about who they’ve been around in terms of contact, possible contact of anybody sick, they’ll have hand sanitizing stations, they’ll be taking temperatures." Event organizers are "certainly being extremely careful, working with the CDC, working with the local government to make things safe for the fans, the players, the media, and all personnel out here." Golf Channel’s Tripp Isenhour said the PGA Tour has “done a fantastic job” during the pandemic. Isenhour: “It’s only 2,000 fans, but it’s a start. Look, the rest of the sports world has done a great job as well. College football, the NFL, they're doing all these things in steps. They’re getting there. We’re getting back to some sense of normalcy." He added having crowds will make a "huge difference playing out there, just even if it’s a smattering of fans, to hear the applause, to hear the cheers, to go through all that" (“Golf Central,” Golf Channel, 11/3).
