The Masters and PGA Tour announce postponements because of coronavirus pandemic
Add The Masters to the list of sporting events to be postponed because of the spread of the coronavirus in the United States.
The Masters was to have been played April 9-12, but Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley hopes to play the tournament at a later date.
Ridley released a statement Friday on the Masters website announcing the news.
“On Wednesday, March 4, we issued a memo stating that our plans to host the Masters Tournament, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals had not changed,” Ridley wrote. “Unfortunately, the ever-increasing risks associated with the widespread Coronavirus COVID-19 have led us to a decision that undoubtedly will be disappointing to many, although I am confident (it) is appropriate under these unique circumstances.
“Considering the latest information and expert analysis, we have decided at this time to postpone the Masters Tournament, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.
“Ultimately, the health and well-being of everyone associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community led us to this decision. We hope this postponement puts us in the best position to safely host the Masters Tournament and our amateur events at some later date.”
That could open the door to The Masters being played in later summer or even the fall.
CBS Sports, which would have broadcast the tournament, said in a statement it was “fully supportive” of the decision.
The PGA Tour also announced Friday that it will be suspending play through the Valero Open, which was scheduled through April 5.
Events that are canceled include the Players Championship, which finished the first round on Thursday. The others are the Valspar Championship and the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said the tipping point was the travel ban and the closing of Walt Disney World and Universal theme parks in Orlando, Florida, which are roughly 150 miles from TPC Sawgrass.
“That was the final thing that we had heard that said, you know what, even though we feel like we have a safe environment and we’ve done all the right things, we can’t proceed, and it’s not right to proceed,” Monahan said, via the PGA website. “And when you’re doing the right thing as the litmus test, to me … those two things together were really the things that drove the decision.”
The LPGA announced Thursday that it was postponing three events in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
And, so, like other sports in the United States, there will be no professional golf for the foreseeable future.
“As COVID-19 continues to impact the lives of people everywhere, we seek your understanding of this decision and know you share our concern given these trying times,” Ridley wrote in the statement. “Thank you for your faithful support.”
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 9:18 AM.
