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UPDATE: Here is the full schedule of events. The PGA Championship will take place the week of August 6th, the U.S. Open will take place the week of September 14th, and the Masters is bumped to the week of November 9th.
Here’s a better look at everything being announced today: pic.twitter.com/dxOc9H4Yn6
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) April 6, 2020
The British Open is officially canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Golf Digest reporter Joel Beall. This week would have been Masters week, and it is fitting that opening what is normally the biggest weekend of the golf calendar, the PGA Tour has updates on re-starting the tour.
The PGA Tour will make a formal announcement on Monday, and Beall is reporting it will include the following:
- The Tour will begin mid June, with no fans, at Memorial
- PGA Championship starts August 6
- Ryder Cup starts September 25
- US Open starts September 17
- The Masters is moving to November
The Masters was first postponed on March 13th. No date was given at the time, and the Augusta National Golf Club said they would continue working with health and government organizations to figure out a better time for the tournament.
This is of particular interest because Tiger Woods had withdrawn from the Players Championship and his availability for the Masters was in question. From a playing health perspective, few golfers are benefiting quite as much as Woods.
Numerous leagues have discussed getting started with no fans in attendance, but it makes the most sense for golf given the available isolated nature of the game. States across America have imposed stay-at-home orders, but they do allow for exercise. Some have specifically included golf as an exercise option as long as you’re playing by yourself. There is no word yet as to how the PGA Tour will handle social distancing for caddies and competitors.