American Express event in Southern California will not have fans in attendance next weekGETTY IMAGES
The PGA Tour is "poised to play the first four events in California when the traveling circuit heads to La Quinta, for next week's American Express," as the pandemic "rages at alarming levels in Los Angeles and much of Southern California," according to Rex Hoggard of GOLFCHANNEL.com. One of the first benchmarks Tour officials set before the restart was "to be sure the circuit never burdened local medical resources." PGA Tour Senior VP/Tournament Administration & Anti-Doping Andy Levinson said that although the Tour's health and safety protocols have "evolved since the restart, there will be no changes for the California events." Levinson said, "We are comfortable that when we come to a town we are going to stay within our group. We're going to be following the protocols and regardless of the location, we feel like we can do that relatively safely." Hoggard noted travel restrictions for players heading to Hawaii for the year's first two events were "far more robust than those required by California for players entering to compete." Currently, fans "will not be allowed at any of the California events." But there are plans for "up to 8,000 fans at the Phoenix Open, sandwiched between the four California tournaments." Health officials in L.A. are "bracing for what they believe will be a post-New Year's transmission peak in 'a few weeks'" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 1/12).
PRIORITIZING SAFETY: Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard said the Tour has a level of “cautious confidence right now.” But he noted the “No. 1 concern” for the Tour is “complacency.” They “need to make sure they don’t have COVID-19 fatigue.” Hoggard said another concern is “making sure that the Tour is never a drain on local resources, and never will that be more important than those four events in California where the pandemic is hitting so hard” (“Golf Central,” Golf Channel, 1/12).
TAKING PRECAUTIONS: Augusta National Golf Club Chair Fred Ridley announced that the club "'intends to limit attendance' at the April event, employing the bubble-like health and safety standards that were used two months ago for the delayed 2020 tournament." USA TODAY's Christine Brennan wrote Augusta National's decision is "both a wake-up call and an exhibition of serious and responsible leadership." Even though there are acres and acres of land at the club, and plenty of room to roam, the Masters has "prudently decided it just cannot yet safely bring back many of its fans while the world is still in the throes of this terrible pandemic" (GOLFWEEK.com, 1/12). Golf Channel’s Tripp Isenhour said Augusta National is a “trend-setter” and the tournament is “setting trends by being the first major championship to say, ‘Hey, we’re going to have a limited number on the ground.’ Others will follow, other tournament directors will follow, the PGA Tour will follow" (“Golf Central,” Golf Channel, 1/12).
