The European Tour will work with the PGA on a global schedule, leading to playing opportunities for better prize funds, as well as collaborating on commercial opportunities

PLANS for a breakaway “super tour” appear to have heralded a major move to create a strategic alliance between the European Tour and the PGA Tour.

In a bid to fend off moves by the The Raine Group – reported to be backed by Saudi Arabian money – the European Tour and PGA have signed a partnership agreement.

And 2021 is set to see changes to the playing schedules on both sides of the Atlantic as a result.

The Tours said on Friday they will work in partnership on a number of areas including global scheduling, prize funds and playing opportunities for their respective members.

In today’s announcement, both tours have agreed to “explore all facets of collaboration, working together on strategic commercial opportunities including collaborating on global media rights in certain territories.”

The PGA Tour has already taken a minority stake in European Tour Productions (ETP), the media production company, which produces and distributes content internationally.

Further details on the other areas will be announced in due course, the European Tour said in a statement from its Wentworth HQ.

But the most likely outcome is FedEx Cup points will be available for American players – and those Europeans with status in the States – at the European Tour’s lucrative events between September and November.

Commissioner Jay joins ET board

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan will take a seat on the European Tour board

The European Tour statement added: “One element of the partnership which can be confirmed is the fact that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan will take a seat on the board of the European Tour.”

Before the European Tour launched the UK Swing in July – after a three-month break in tournaments because of the COVID-19 crisis – its head Keith Pelley warned players the days of large multi-million prize funds, and many of the players’ perks of a luxury lifestyle on Tour, were under serious threat from the economic effects of the pandemic.

Speculation has been rife since March that the Tour was short of cash, and may have been looking for an injection from, or possible merger with, the PGA Tour.

Without the cash generated by the Rolex Series, which was reduced from eight to just four events in 2020, this year’s prize funds represented a major step backwards, with a huge gulf between a winner’s cheque on the PGA Tour and a European one.

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “This partnership is an historic moment for the game of golf, and is a fantastic opportunity for both the European Tour and the PGA Tour to explore ways to come together at the very pinnacle of our sport – and work in unison for the benefit of the men’s professional game.”

Mr Pelley added that the announcement was the formalisation of a closer working relationship between the two Tours in recent years.

He added: “It was one which was crystalised earlier this year when both Jay and I were part of the working group containing representatives of the four Majors and the LPGA, a group which helped shape the remainder of the golfing calendar for 2020 during unprecedented times.

“We shared the challenges of working through a year neither of us could have ever imagined and we found definite synergies in many areas of our respective Tours. That gave us the impetus to move forward together and arrive at this momentous announcement we are making today.”

Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR, said, “We are thrilled to announce this further strengthening of our partnership with the European Tour.

“We look forward to working together for the benefit of the men’s professional game and for golf fans around the world.”

Brooks Koepka has publicly distanced himself from plans for a breakaway Premier Golf League – reported to be backed by Saudi Arabian money. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Why world’s top three declined PGL approach

EARLIER this year the world’s top three players all came out publicly to state they would not back plans for a Premier Golf League, reported to be touting for the world’s top 48 players to create a breakaway tour.

Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka all pledged their loyalty to both America’s PGA and European Tours – with McIlroy saying he was unhappy at the prospect of Saudi money being linked as a backer of the Raine Group plan.

Koepka, who rang Rory to discuss the move, also voiced fears that it was wrong to limit the highest and most lucrative level of the game to just 48 players.

Rory said in March: “I think one of the great things about golf is the fact that there are these story lines of the underdog – and the fact that anyone can really qualify for the US Open and have a great tournament, and have a chance to win.

“Those are the wonderful things about golf. For this league to sort of take that narrative away, and as Brooks said, he’d have a hard time looking at some of those guys in the eye that don’t make that top 48.

“The top players going to this other league it basically, not puts these other guys out of a job, but it definitely diminishes what they’re playing for and what they could earn on Tour.”

The new tie up also poses question marks over the future of the Ryder Cup.

The Ryder Cup is jointly owned by the European Tour and the PGA of America – the body of thousands of ordinary club professionals in the USA.

Any future merger between the PGA Tour and the European Tour would shift the power balance Stateside, and give it a share in sharing the spoils of the huge revenues the worldwide sporting event generates.

One seasoned golf industry executive said after the agreement was announced said: “If you’re the PGA Tour, why wouldn’t you want to flip those economics in your favour?”

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Ben Hogan won five times at Colonial – which will welcome the first PGA Tour event after the coronavirus lockdown following the announcement on the new 2020 schedule

THE PGA Tour will restart in Texas in two months’ time with the Charles Schwab Challenge Cup at Colonial Country Club –with at least the first four tournaments being played behind closed doors.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan stressed the decision on whether spectators will be allowed in to watch events starting with July’s John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run, in Illinois, would be reviewed regularly over the coming weeks.

The final decision would depend on the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis, he stressed.

Among the casualties are June’s RBC Canadian Open and the Barbasol Championship, which was set to be played in the same week at the 149^th Open Championship – which has now been postponed until 2021.

The Memorial Tournament staged at Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield Village will now move from late May into the date vacated by The Open, at Royal St George’s, at Sandwich, Kent.

The third World Golf Championship of the planned season – the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational will also move from early July to the end of the month – when the Olympics Golf tournament would have been held in Tokyo.

Hilton Head’s RBC Heritage, which would have been staged this week as the first PGA Tour event after The Masters, will now be played from June 18-21 – the original date of the US Open, which has now moved to September.

Mr Monahan said: “The health and safety of all associated with the PGA Tour and our global community continues to be our number one priority, and our hope is to play a role – responsibly – in the world’s return to enjoying the things we love.

“Today’s announcement is another positive step for our fans and players as we look toward the future.

“But as we’ve stressed on several occasions, we will resume competition only when – working closely with our tournaments, partners and communities – it is considered safe to do so under the guidance of the leading public health authorities.”

First four events to be played behind closed doors

A PGA Tour spokesman said: “At this time, the Tour plans to resume play with the first four events closed to the general public, but will continue to monitor the situation and follow the recommendations of local and state authorities in order to determine the most appropriate on-site access in each market.

“As such, the Tour will continually review available COVID-19-related protocols that could be implemented at PGA Tour events to ensure the health and well-being for all involved.”

Speculation mounted this week that the PGA Tour would announce a resumption of play – after play was suspended for originally a month after officials at its Ponta Vedra Sawgrass HQ at Ponta Vedra canclled The Players Championship after the first round.

The PGA Tour has also announced that the three events with limited fields – Memorial (120), RBC Heritage (132) and the Charles Schwab Challenge (120) – will now feature 144 players to increase playing opportunities for its members.

Colonial, in Fort Worth, is the home of the famous Ben Hogan’s Alley – the nine-time Major winner won five times at the Texas club. Kevin Na claimed the Charles Schwab Challenge trophy in 2019.

Kevin Na winner of the 2019 Charles Schwab Challenge. Picture by BEN JARED / PGA TOUR

Rocket Mortgage Classic switches

THE other event which was scheduled to take place between May and June – and now has a new date – is the Rocket Mortgage Classic, at Detroit Golf Club.

Nate Lashley, who got into the field as an 11th-hour reserve, won the tournament which was staged for the first time in 2019.

It will now be played from July 2-5 – after the move by the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational.

The Travelers Championship at Connecticut’s TPC River Highlands (June 25-28), the John Deere Classic (July 9-12), and the 3M Open, at TPC Twin Cities, in Minnesota (July 23-26) all retain their original dates in the schedule.

The Barracuda Championship at California’s Tahoe Mountain Club, will be played at the same time as the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational, at TPC South Winds, in Memphis, from July 30-August 2)

San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park will host the USPGA the following week from August 6-9, after its original May date was moved back last month.

The Wyndham Championship, at Sedgefield Country Club (August 13-16), will be the final event of the regular FedEx Cup season, before the three play-offs.

The Greenbrier’s Military Tribute event will no longer feature on the PGA Tour it was announced today

PGA Tour dates for 20/21 season released

THE PGA Tour also announced the first 13 dates of the 2020-21 season – with three events moving to new dates to accommodate the move to autumn dates by the US Open and Masters.

The biggest surprise is the ending of the Military Tribute at Greenbrier, after 10 years as a PGA Tour event – a decision described as mutual by the Tour and the host club.

PGA Tour chief tournaments officer Andy Pazder said: “We are very grateful to Governor Jim Justice and his Greenbrier Resort for a highly successful 10 years of partnership with the PGA Tour.

“Governor Justice’s vision and leadership helped shine a light on the men and women that serve our country through the military and first responder programs he implemented through the tournament, and The Greenbrier Resort was an incredibly unique and world-class venue that our players will always remember and cherish.”

A statement issued by Greenbrier said the switch to a September date had proved less successful for the West Virginia resort, which staged the original event from 2010 until 2012 over the American Indepdence Day weekend.

The contract guaranteeing the Military Tribute would be held at the famous White Sulphur Springs resort until 2026 has been cancelled after agreement by both the tour and owners.

Pazder also thanked the organisers of the Safeway and Houston Opens and the Mayakoba Classic, in Mexico, for helping to accommodate the two Major events in September and November.

The Safeway Open at California’s Silverado Resort, in Napa, will now be played in the first week of September, which was set for this year’s Greenbrier tournament.

Pazder said: “We’d like to express our appreciation to the leadership of the Safeway Open, Houston Open and Mayakoba Golf Classic for their flexibility, which allowed for the US Open and Masters Tournament to be played in the fall.

“The accommodations will help the global golf community maximize the 2020 calendar, which will be incredibly impactful for our fans and put us in a strong position heading into 2021.

“This portion of our 2020-21 schedule is possible only because of the many partners who have worked tirelessly to grow their events and impact the lives of those in need in their respective communities, and our players, who have embraced the expanded fall schedule in recent years.”

Early 2020/212 PGA Tour season dates

• Sept 7-13: Safeway Open, Silverado Resort and Spa North, Napa, California
• Sept 14-20: US Open, Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, New York
• Sept 21-27: Ryder Cup, Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin
• Sept 21-27: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, Corales Golf Club, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
• Sept 28-Oct 4: Sanderson Farms Championship, Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Mississippi

Oct 5-11: Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Oct 12-18: The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges, Jeju Island, Korea
• Oct 19-25: Zozo Championship, Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, Japan
• Oct 26-Nov 1: World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, China
• Oct 26-Nov 1: Bermuda Championship, Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton, Bermuda

• Nov 2-8: Houston Open, Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston, Texas
• Nov 9-15: Masters Tournament, Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia
• Nov 16-22: The RSM Classic, Sea Island Resort, Georgia
• Nov 30-Dec 6: Mayakoba Golf Classic, El Camaleón Golf Club, Mexico

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Brooks Keopka will have to wait to see if he can defend the Sam Wanamaker for a third year in a row at some point in 2020 after May’s championship at TPC Harding Park was called off

THE USPGA Championship has become the second Major of the 2020 golf season to be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

After days of speculation that the PGA of America, which organises the USPGA, was considering switching May’s tournament from San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park to Sawgrass, in Florida – where the Players Championship was cancelled after just 18 holes on Friday.

But PGA of America bosses announced this evening that they had decided to follow the lead of the Augusta National Golf Club – who postponed next month’s Masters – and abandon plans to host the USPGA Championship in California, from May 14-17.

And four more PGA Tour events have also been called off in April and May after the Masters.

PGA of America chief executive officer Seth Waugh finally ended the speculation with an announcement on Tuesday evening.

Mr Waugh said: “Postponement is the best decision for all involved.

“Throughout our evaluation process, we have been committed to following the guidance of public health authorities.

“This is a reflection of a thoughtful process.

“We are – and have been – working in concert with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, and our partners and friends at the PGA Tour, to find an alternative date that works for all.

“We are all very hopeful for a great outcome.

“We are also in dialogue with San Francisco Mayor London Breed and her team and look forward to hopefully bringing the 2020 PGA Championship to TPC Harding Park at a date this summer when it is safe and responsible to do so.”

Last year Brooks Keopka claimed the Sam Wanamaker Trophy for the second year in a row with his victory at New York’s Bethpage Black.

Now the former World No. 1 will have to wait to see when he can defend the title for a third time in 2020.

The PGA of America said the 2020 USPGA Championship was being postponed this evening

Four events after Masters now off

THE latest PGA Tour tournaments to join the list of cancelled professional golf events are:–

•RBC Heritage (April 16-19), Hilton Head South Carolina •Zurich Classic of New Orleans (April 23-26), at TPC Louisiana

•Wells Fargo Championship, (April 30-May 3), Quail Holllow, North Carolina

•AT&T Byron Nelson (May 7-10) at Trinity Forest GC, in Texas

It means the next professional golf event in America is not due to be played until the week of May 18 at the earliest –when the Charles Schwab Challenge is set to take place at Colonial Country Club, in Fort Worth, Texas.

There are then four more events scheduled on the PGA Tour before the USGA’s US Open is set to be held at Winged Foot, in New York.

The USGA has already cancelled the first stage of the 109 qualifying events that are held annually across the USA from late April, to make the up the field, after final qualifiers are held in May.

Two international qualifiers are also held in Japan and at Surrey’s Walton Heath.

A USGA spokesman said it would, “look to redesign qualifying going forward as events unfold.”

Qualifying for the US Women’s Open has also been cancelled. The US Women’s Open is scheduled at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, from June 4-7.

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PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monaghan announced the decision to cancel The 2020 Players Championship after the first round had finished late on Thursday

GOLF fans across the UK were shocked to wake up to news that the PGA Tour had cancelled The Players Championship after the first round had been completed.

The decision was made in the early hours UK time after play had finished for the day at Sawgrass with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama leading after a superb nine-under par 63.

After what had been a bad for the British players – defending champion Rory McIlroy had to battle to get back to level par to end the day in a large tie for 83rd – the PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan made the shock announcement that ALL PGA Tour events were being cancelled up until the Texas Open, in early April.

The decision – in reaction to the declaration of the Coronavirus epidemic being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisations – sent more shockwaves around the world of golf.

A week ago, the European Tour cancelled this week’s Magical Kenya Open, and earlier this week the Hero Indian Open – scheduled for the end of the month – was also postponed.

The European Tour has also cancelled the Czech Masters in Prague, in August, and two Challenge Tour events in Slovakia and the Czech Republic in June and July – the latter two tournaments have the same sponsor.

Mr Monaghan had said at a press conference after the start of Thursday’s play that The Players would continue on Friday with no spectators being admitted to the course at Sawgrass.

But later that evening after hastily arranged emergency discussions, the decision was made to call a halt to the tournament immediately.

Mr Monaghan spoke on Friday morning at the PGA Tour’s Florida HQ at Ponte Vedra.

He said: “When you looked to that moment in time where you have two theme parks that are located between Jacksonville and Tampa cancel, to me that really was the thing 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.”

A number of international players in the strongest field at a PGA Tour event annually, approached the PGA Tour with concerns after Disney and Busch Gardens had announced they were closing to the public, because of the threat posed by Coronavirus (COVID 19).

Monahan added: “And when you use ‘doing the right thing’ as the litmus test, to me that was the final – those two things together were really the things that drove the decision.”

Some players had brought their families to Florida who were spending time at the two large theme parks – and were also concerned about travel arrangements, with more restrictions being imposed by governments, after the President Donald Trump imposed a ban on people entering America from European countries.

Defending the PGA Tour’s decision to change its policy during the build-up and start to The Players, its chief said they were making decisions in real-time in response to a rapidly-changing and escalating worldwide situation.

Monaghan had said when announcing the spectator ban from Friday: “This is a difficult situation, one with consequences that impact our players, fans, and the communities in which we play,

“As I said earlier this week, we’ve had a team in place that has been carefully monitoring and assessing the situation and its implications for several weeks.”

As golf fans digested that not only would the 2020 Players Championship not be rescheduled later in the year, the next four tournaments were also being halted as golf joined basketball and ice hockey in suspending their seasons.

Events hit by Coronavirus outbreak

THE decision to abandon The Players Championship took the number of professional golf events now cancelled in 2020 to 25 – including the first LPGA Major of the year – the Ana Inspiration.

The events cancelled so far are:–
PGA Tour
The Players Championship (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida March 11-14): Cancelled
Valspar Championship (Palm Harbor, Florida, March 19-22): Cancelled
WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play (Austin, Texas, March 25-29): Cancelled
Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship (Dominican Republic, March 26-29): Cancelled
Valero Texas Open (April 2-5): Cancelled

European Tour:
Magical Kenya Open (Nairobi, March 5-8): Cancelled
Hero Indian Open (New Delhi, March 19-22): Postponed
Maybank Championship (Malaysia, April 16-19): Postponed
Volvo China Open (Shenzhen, April 23-26): Postponed
Czech Masters (Prague, August 20-23): Cancelled

Challenge Tour:
D+D Real Czech Challenge (June 4-7): Cancelled
D+D Real Slovakia Challenge (July 2-5): Cancelled

LPGA:
Honda LPGA Thailand (Pattaya, February 20-23): Cancelled
HSBC Women’s World Championship (Singapore, February 27-March 1): Cancelled
Blue Bay LPGA (China, March 5-8): Cancelled
Founders Cup (Phoenix, Arizona, March 19-22): Postponed
Kia Classic (Carlsbad, California, March 26-29): Postponed
ANA Inspiration (Rancho Mirage, California, April 2-5): Postponed

Korn Ferry Tour:
Chitimacha Louisiana Open – Savannah Golf Championship (March 19-April 5): Cancelled

Symetra Tour: 
IOA Championship (Beaumont, California, March 27-29): Postponed
Windsor Golf Classic (Windsor, California, April 2-4): Postponed

Other events:
Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific (Thailand, February 12-15): Rescheduled October 7-10

PGA Tour Series-China
Two qualifying events postponed – season reduced from 14 to 10 events

PGA Tour Latinoamerica
Buenos Aires Championship (Argentina, March 26-29): Cancelled
Termas de Rio Hondo (Argentina, April 2-5): Cancelled

Taiwan’s C T Pan: Why I withdrew

TAIWAN’S C T Pan withdrew from The Players Championship before play began this week.

He said on Twitter: “I chose to withdraw from the Players Championship because my wife and I want to protect ourselves from the risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

“We are fine and our families are fine. Our lifestyle is like a circus, traveling from one place to another.

“We believe this is a time to exercise caution by not playing this week.”

Pelley: Travel bans hit Hero Indian Open

EUROPEAN Tour chief executive Keith Pelley (pictured) explained the reasoning behind the decision to call off the Hero Indian Open as the country’s government introduced travel restrictions.

He said: “In these difficult global circumstances, we fully understand and appreciate the recent restrictions introduced in respect of travel into India.

“As these new measures now prevent many members of both tours being able to play in the tournament, everyone involved in the staging of the Hero Indian Open felt it was the correct decision to postpone the tournament.”

The Hero Indian Open is co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours meaning organisers faced having players from some countries being unable to play despite being entered into the tournament, which was won in 2019 by Stephen Gallacher.

The tour chief had already cancelled the Maybank Championship and Volvo China Open in the first few weeks after the Coronavirus oubreak in China had been confirmed.

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Tiger Woods will be inducted in the Class of 2021 at the World Golf Hall of Fame in Florida

TIGER Woods will enter the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021, it was announced on Thursday.

The Flordida-based golf heritage attraction will enshrine Woods – the 82-time PGA Tour winner – as part of its Class of 2021.

Woods received the news of his impending induction in the Male Competitor category via phone from PGA Tour Commissioner and World Golf Foundation board chairman Jay Monahan.

“I am both honoured and humbled to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame,” said Woods, who sensationally won the 2019 Masters to make it 14 more Majors since his first win at Augusta in 1997.

“This past year has been such an incredible journey and the support I’ve received from my family, friends and fans has been overwhelming.

“This achievement is the ultimate recognition to never give up and keep chasing,” said 44-year-old Woods.

A winner of 93 worldwide events including a record-tying 82 on the PGA TOUR, Woods is a three-time winner of the career Grand Slam.

Woods completed the “Tiger Slam” in 2000-01 when he became the first golfer since Bobby Jones to hold all four major championship titles at the same time.

Monahan said: “Tiger has done more for the game of golf than anyone ever thought possible, and his historic feats on the course are only one aspect of his impact.

“His imprint on the game is immeasurable, and his unparalleled legacy is one we look forward to celebrating as he’s inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame next year.”

Woods’ incredible career recognised by World Golf Hall of Fame

A TWO-time champion of The Players and the first two-time winner of the FedExCup, Tiger Woods has competed on eight Ryder Cup and nine Presidents Cup teams.

The latter includes when he served as a playing captain of the victorious US Presidents Cup Team in 2019.

He is an 11-time PGA Tour Player of the Year winner and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019 following his fifth career victory at The Masters.

Greg McLaughlin, chief executive of the World Golf Foundation said: “The World Golf Hall of Fame is honoured to recognise the incredible career of Tiger Woods.

“His impact on the game of golf and everyone associated with it will have a lasting effect on generations to come.”

The Class of 2021 is elected by the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, which discussed the merits of 10 finalists.

The selection committee is a 20-member panel co-chaired by Hall of Fame members Beth Daniel, Nick Price, Annika Sorenstam and Curtis Strange, and includes media representatives and leaders of the major golf organisations.

The finalists were nominated by the Hall of Fame’s nominating committee, which vetted every candidate that met the qualifications of the Hall of Fame’s three induction categories.

•You can find out more about the World Golf Hall of Fame in St Augustine, by clicking here.

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