Lee Westwood’s victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January was his 25th victory on the European Tour and increased his chances of making an 11th Ryder Cup. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

LEE Westwood is prepared to miss key events on the PGA Tour because of the planned quarantine restrictions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA.

And his reasoning could be the biggest hint yet that the European Tour is ready to return to action in July at the British Masters, which Westwood is set to host for a second time at Close House.

Westwood, who is in line to qualify for his 11th Ryder Cup appearance after his victory in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, has indicated he will miss the first two events when the PGA Tour returns in June.

But in a TV interview in the USA, Westwood said: “Right now, I won’t be playing them.

“Not with having to leave here two weeks before, quarantine, then play the two tournaments, then come back here and quarantine again.”

Former European No. 1 Tommy Fleetwood has also said he won’t return to the USA to compete in the first few events.

The first four are to be played behind closed doors with no spectators.

Next month’s Charles Schwab Challenge will be the first scheduled PGA Tour event since The Players was called off after the first round, in March.

The Heritage at Hilton Head, in South Carolina, follows a week later.

But all of the 25 international players due to play in Texas, would need to be in the USA by Monday, May 25, to meet the quarantine regulations on foreigners travelling to America.

Westwood revealed his reasoning by saying: “It’s six weeks for two tournaments, and to me, that’s just not worth it.

“And it’s not worth taking the risk if everybody thinks that those kind of precautions have got to be in place.

“I don’t feel like golf’s a priority if it’s that severe.’”

Lee Westwood with Close House owner Graham Wylie – the pair will host the 2020 Betfred British Masters

Westwood set to host British Masters for a second time

WESTWOOD has the added complication that he is due to host the British Masters, which is scheduled to be played from July 30-August 2.

The European Tour event at Newcastle’s Close House – close to where the World No. 31 is based – is now expected to be the first action for the Wentworth-based Tour.

All European Tour events were called off after the end of February, when the Oman Open was held in the Middle East.

If the British Masters goes ahead as planned, Westwood, and any other top European players who enter, will be unable to play in the PGA Championship – unless the US quarantine rules are relaxed by then.

The USPGA was moved from mid-May to the early August slot after the cancellation of the Men’s Golf at the Tokyo Olympics, allowed the Major to move back to an August date.

Last year was the first time the USPGA had been held in its new May date, and after the Masters and US Open were postponed – and the Open Championship at Royal St George’s was moved back to 2021 – the USPGA is set to be the first Major of the 2020 season.

Fans are not expected to be allowed at the British Masters.

And Westwood is conscious of the need to balance safety – while the risk of a second wave in the coronavirus crisis exists – and trying to put on some golf for the public to watch while the lockdown.

Westwood added: “Obviously, people want something to watch, and it’s a good way to kick-start your economy.

“But we don’t want a second wave, so we have to make sure we are very, very safe.”

‘Robust testing and hygiene processes’

Matt Fitzpatrick won the British Masters at Woburn, in 2015

The European Tour has been working ceaselessly trying to reschedule its season.

But chief executive Keith Pelley has said he will not disclose the details until the Tour is happy it has “robust testing and hygiene processes” in place.

Westwood’s reason for returning to the UK suggests, however, the British Masters could well be the European Tour’s first event on the new 2020 calendar.

Previous winners of the British Masters include Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell, who claimed the title at Walton Heath in 2018.

And Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick recorded his first European Tour win at Woburn, in 2015.

The post Westwood to miss PGA Tour return – is it a clue British Masters will go ahead? appeared first on Golf North.

European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington says the match against America may have to go ahead without fans – even though the idea is unpopular with some of his big name players

RYDER Cup captain Padraig Harrington has unintentionally named Luke Donald as a vice-captain for the 2020 Ryder Cup.

Harrington confirmed two things about his plans for Whistling Straits – if the biennial clash with the Americans can go ahead in September – in a TV interview with Sky Sports.

But while the European team captain insisted he will not be having 12 picks in response to the vastly changed PGA and European Tour schedule for the rest of 2020, he did not mean to announce publicly one of his picks for vice-captain at Wisconsin.

Harrington made the revelation he intends to have Luke Donald as a vice-captain for the 2020 Ryder Cup when speaking to Sky Sports’ Golf Show, talking to Sarah Stirk and Jamie Spence.

Harrington said he has been discussing his plans including tactics, logistics and golf stats with key members of his backroom team on a regular basis.

He then let it slip that Donald would be again be a vice-captain – a role he filled for Thomas Bjørn at Le Golf National in 2018 – earning wide acclaim on the European side as the USA were routed.

Harrington also said he agreed with the likes of Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy that playing without fans would take away much of the spectacle.

But the Irishman, who won back to back Opens and the USPGA at Oakland Hills four years after he helped Europe win the 2004 Ryder Cup at the Detroit course, has warned the Ryder Cup may HAVE to be played behind closed doors.

“None of the players want to have a Ryder Cup without the fans,” said Harrington, who said at the start of last month he believed the Ryder Cup would not go ahead off if fans were unable to be at Whistling Straits because of the coronavirus pandemic spreading across the USA in April.

“It’s an option that nobody wants to take, and the players don’t want it, Harrington told Sky.

“But we might have to take one for the world team of sport and put an event on that people can watch.

“It wouldn’t be the same for us, obviously, but it’s sport on TV that we’re all craving.

Padraig Harrington says he needs to be prepared as is he was playing the Whistling Straits course by Lake Michigan in the 2020 Ryder Cup – which may have to go ahead without fans

‘I need to be prepared as possible’

“If we see any live sport right now, we’d all be sitting at home watching it,” Padraig said.

“Clearly, nobody wants to play a Ryder Cup behind closed doors.

“But they’re keeping a prudent eye on it because they know that, if the PGA Tour events in June go well without the fans, it’s a possibility.”

Europe’s top two ranked players – Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm – have said the Ryder Cup will lose much of its appeal from the players’ viewpoint if it is played behind closed doors.

Irishman Harrington, who won three out of six Majors played between the 2007 Open at Carnoustie and the USPGA the following year, says he is determined to “be as prepared as possible” for a trip to Wisconsin in just over four months’ time.

“I’m trying to prepare every day like I’m going to play the Ryder Cup. It might not be a normal Ryder Cup in September, but I need to be as prepared as I can be,” said the 48-year-old.

“I’ve spoken to Guy Kinnings (Ryder Cup director) this week, I spoke to Luke, one of my vice-captains, yesterday, and I talked to the stats guy today because I’ve sat down to look at how my team would look if I had to pick it now.”

Harrington has so far only named Robert Karlsson as a vice-captain, but is expected to have four or five in total. Thomas Bjørn used Karlsson, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood, Donald and Harrington.

Padraig Harrington who unintentionally announced he intends to have Luke Donald as a vice-captain at the Ryder Cup in September. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

‘I won’t get 12 picks’ says Harrington

PADRAIG Harrington does not think he will need a one-off change of selection policy, allowing him to pick all 12 European players – because of the cancellation of the first here majors of 2020 which would have a big say on who would fill the top nine qualifying positions.

“I’m not getting 12 picks, that’s for sure,” said Harrington, live on The Golf Show on Sky Sports News, on Tuesday, having floated the idea at the start of April.

Harrington, who made his Ryder Cup debut in the infamous Battle of Brookline defeat in 1999, said: “The Tour have been very reasonable.

“They did the numbers on it, I asked for a few situations to do more numbers, and they presented that to the tournament committee to have a look.

“It’s not just reasonable, it’s actually quite fair whatever option I’ll have in terms of picks.

“It’s kind of irrelevant how many picks I get. The difficult pick is always going to be 11 and 12.

“Even if I had six picks, the last two would be the most difficult and they’re the ones that are usually more controversial.

“It’s not a huge deal in terms of how many picks I end up with, because it’ll come down to two people at the end.

“But it’s fair, and anyone that has played well, will be well looked after in this system, and there will still be room for manoeuvre for some players who haven’t played their way into the team so far.”

“I know the different models that are in place depending on when we get back to playing, so I’ll have a little look at that.

“I’m very happy with how the team is shaping up, but I’d certainly like to see some form before I have to make those picks.”

He is likely to name at least one vice-captain at the same time or shortly after the team is picked in early September.

Harrington (left) celebrates victory at The Belfry with Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood. Picture by STUART FLETCHER

Harrington teams won four of six Ryder Cups

HARRINGTON was one of just three Europeans to win their Sunday singles match as the Americans came back from 10-6 down to win by a point, in Boston.

He has played in six Ryder Cups – including in 2002 at The Belfry, the last time the event was postponed after the 9/11 attack on New York.

Harrington ended up on the winning team in four of them, winning 101/2 points in 25 matches.

The Dubliner’s last appearance was in Colin Montgomerie’s team at Celtic Manor in 2010.

Harrington was a vice-captain in 2014, 2016 and 2018, and became the third pro from Ireland and Northern Ireland to lead Europe in the Ryder Cup after Paul McGinley (2014) and Darren Clarke (2016).

As well as his three Majors, Harrington has 12 other European Tour wins to his name – the last at the 2016 Portugal Masters.

He also has three regular PGA Tour wins to his name and two more on the Asian Tour as well as a win in Japan.

He was named Europe’s 2020 Ryder Cup captain in January 2019.

Rory McIlroy who won the 2014 USPGA at Kiawah Island – scene of a famous Ryder Cup defeat for Europe back in 1991’s War on the Shore

Rory McIlroy: Without fans it won’t be the Ryder Cup

RORY McIlroy told the BBC two weeks ago that the Ryder Cup should be postponed until 2021 rather than be played in September without fans.

“A Ryder Cup without fans is not a Ryder Cup. It wouldn’t be a great spectacle, there’d be no atmosphere.

“So if it came to whether they had to choose between not playing the event or playing it without fans, I would say just delay it a year and play it in 2021.”

“Obviously it would be better for the Europeans to play without fans because we wouldn’t have to deal with some of the stuff you have to put up with, but at the same time it’s not a Ryder Cup,” added McIlroy.

It is nearly 21 years ago that US fans upset both Jose-Maria Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie during the Sunday singles in the Battle of Brookline with abuse that brought condemnation from European captain Mark James.

If the Ryder Cup as pushed back to 2021 and then played again in 2023 it would allow Italy – one of the countries worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic – an extra year to prepare for hosting the event, said McIlroy.

The Northern Ireland golfer has four Majors to his name, but has not won one since the 2014 USPGA at Kiawah Island.

The South Carolina course was also the scene of more unsporting behaviour by US fans and players in the “War by the Shore.”

The post Harrington ‘names’ Donald as Ryder Cup vice-captain and rules out getting 12 picks appeared first on Golf North.

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

The post PGA Tour will return at Hogan’s Alley with Colonial’s Charles Schwab Challenge appeared first on Golf North.

The 2020 Masters winner will don the famous Green Jacket in November instead of April after the main Tours agreed a new set of dates for the Majors – although The Open is off

THE Masters will be rescheduled to November it was announced this afternoon – just minutes after it was confirmed the 149th Open Championship at Royal St George’s will now take place at Sandwich in 2021.

And the US Open is moving to September six weeks after the PGA of America hopes to stage the USPGA at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park in light of coronavirus pandemic, spreading across the USA.

The PGA Tour is looking to reschedule three of its events in June, July and early August, allowing for the FedEx Play-offs to be played as planned in August.

Both the PGA of America and the European Tour have confirmed the Ryder Cup will be played – if possible – at Whistling Straits, in Wisconsin, from September 25-27, as originally planned.

But the rescheduling means the world’s top golfers could be left playing five weeks in a row – from the USPGA until the climax to the FedEx play-offs at the Tour Championsip, at Eastlake, from September 4-7.

The US Open will be played after a week off, with the leading Americans and Euoropeans heading from New York to Wisconsin for the Ryder Cup.

The unprecedented game of musical chairs was confirmed after weeks of speculation in joint statement issued by Augusta National Golf Club, the European Tour, the LPGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour, The R&A and USGA.

A joint statement issued by the seven organisations on Monday afternoon read: “This is a difficult and challenging time for everyone coping with the effects of this pandemic.

“We remain very mindful of the obstacles ahead, and each organization will continue to follow the guidance of the leading public health authorities, conducting competitions only if it is safe and responsible to do so.

“In recent weeks, the global golf community has come together to collectively put forward a calendar of events that will, we hope, serve to entertain and inspire golf fans around the world.

“We are grateful to our respective partners, sponsors and players, who have allowed us to make decisions – some of them, very tough decisions – in order to move the game and the industry forward.

“We want to reiterate that Augusta National Golf Club, European Tour, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA collectively value the health and well-being of everyone, within the game of golf and beyond, above all else.

“We encourage everyone to follow all responsible precautions and make effort to remain healthy and safe.”

US Open set to stay at Winged Foot

THE US Open, previously scheduled for June 18-21 at Winged Foot, in Mamaroneck, has been officially rescheduled for September 17-20.

United States Golf Association chief executive Mike Davis confirmed the USGA’s preference to keep the US Open in New York, which has borne the brunt of the wave of COVID-19 deaths in America over the past week.

Mr David said: “We are hopeful that postponing the championship will offer us the opportunity to mitigate health and safety issues while still providing us with the best opportunity to conduct the U.S. Open this year.

“We are incredibly thankful to the membership and staff at Winged Foot for their flexibility and support.

“We are also grateful for the wonderful collaboration among the professional tours and other majors in working through a complicated schedule.”

A statement from the game’s governing body in North America, read: “The USGA is currently evaluating how the postponement will affect exemption categories, and definitive changes will be communicated as soon as possible.

“As previously announced, the USGA will strive to conduct qualifying that fits health and safety guidelines while accommodating the rescheduled championship dates.”

The USGA is set to announce details of US Open Qualifying. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

‘Golf can help world recover from COVID-19’

PGA of America chief executive Seth Waugh also believes golf has an important role to play as the world tries to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

“Sports, and particularly the game of golf, are important vehicles for healing and hope,” said Mr Waugh who confirmed the USPGA – which had seen its early May slot cancelled shortly after the decision to cancel April’s Masters was made – will now move to the first week in August.

“With the help of the City and County of San Francisco, our friends at the PGA Tour, and our partners CBS Sports and ESPN, we are holding August 3-9 as dates for a rescheduled 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park,” Seth Waugh added.

“We will continue to follow the guidance of public health officials, but are hopeful that it will be safe and responsible to conduct the PGA Championship in August and the Ryder Cup as planned, from September 22-27, at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, with our NBC Sports partners.

“With our country going through extremely difficult times, it will be an honour for all of us at the PGA of America to hopefully help turn a page in August, with the PGA Championship, and September with the Ryder Cup.”

The men’s golf championship at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games was due to be played the week before but its cancellation allowed the USPGA to move into what had been a free week on the PGA Tour schedule.

The Masters will move to a date in the autumn which will be a first for Augusta

Augusta National: ‘Masters can bring moment of joy’

THE Masters was the first Major of 2020 to be postponed, and the event founded by Bobby Jones last failed to be played back in 1945 because of the war.

The host club were determined to try to avoid that and the new autumn date will be a first – providing the grip the coronavirus pandemic has Stateside abates by then.

Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley said: “We remain very mindful of the extraordinary and unprecedented challenges presented by the coronavirus around the world.

“As such, we continue to keep in close contact with local, state and national health authorities to help inform our decisions.

“In collaboration with the leading organisations in golf, Augusta National Golf Club has identified November 9-15 as the intended dates to host the 2020 Masters.

“While more details will be shared in the weeks and months to come, we, like all of you, will continue to focus on all mandated precautions and guidelines to fight against the coronavirus.

“Along the way, we hope the anticipation of staging the Masters Tournament in the fall brings a moment of joy to the Augusta community and all those who love the sport.

“We want to emphasise that our future plans are incumbent upon favourable counsel and direction from health officials.

“Provided that occurs and we can conduct the 2020 Masters, we intend to invite those professionals and amateurs who would have qualified for our original April date – and welcome all existing ticketholders to enjoy the excitement of Masters week.

“After careful consideration and following an extensive review process, we also have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

“Ultimately, the many scheduling challenges with NCAA tournaments, the World Amateur Team Championships, the LPGA Q-Series and other events when women’s amateur golf resumes led to this decision.

“Each player who accepted an invitation for the 2020 championship will be invited to compete in the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, provided she remains an amateur.

“Also, those who purchased tickets will be sent a refund in May and given the opportunity to purchase tickets for the event next year.

“We thank everyone for their understanding of this decision, and we look forward to the championship returning in full strength next spring.

“We know the effects of these announcements will be far-reaching.

“Additional information will be made available on Masters.com and ANWAgolf.com as details become known. Your patience is appreciated as we hope and plan for the 84th Masters in November.

“Thank you for your continued support and we wish you and your loved ones health and safety during these uncertain times.”

The post The Masters now moves to November as US Open and USPGA get new dates appeared first on Golf North.

The 2020 Open Championship at Royal St George’s has been cancelled – the Claret Jug will return to Sandwich in July 2021. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

THE R&A has cancelled The 149th Open at Royal St George’s in 2020 because of the current COVID-19 crisis – the championship will now be played at Sandwich in 2021, instead.

The Open was due to be staged in Kent from July 12-19, but following guidance – from the UK Government, the health authorities, public services and The R&A’s advisers – the decision was taken to pull the plug on staging the world’s oldest Major in 2020.

The move followed more than a week of intense speculation while the game’s governing body weighed up its options during the coronavirus pandemic.

It is the first time since the Second World War that golf’s original championship, first played in 1860, has been cancelled – following on from Augusta National’s decision last month to cancel this week’s Masters for the first time since WWII.

The decision piles on the pressure on the other two Majors in the 2020 calendar, which are all under threat – including June’s US Open at Winged Foot, and the USPGA, which has been suggested could move to early August, in the slot vacated by the cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics.

Talks have been going on for past week and on Friday The R&A said it was still reviewing its options.

A shift to a date in September prior to the Ryder Cup – considered the most likely option given the current Government lockdown to beat the COVID-19 crisis could last until the early summer – was finally discounted.

The R&A stressed its plan now is to hold the 149^th Open at Royal St George’s from July 15-18, 2021 leaving the stage set for the 150^th Open to go ahead at St Andrews, from July 14-17, in 2022 – when the awarding of the Claret Jug and the Gold Medal celebrates a special milestone in golf’s history.

R&A: First priority is protect health

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “Our absolute priority is to protect the health and safety of the fans, players, officials, volunteers and staff involved in The Open.

“We care deeply about this historic championship and have made this decision with a heavy heart.

“We appreciate this will be disappointing for a great many people around the world, but this pandemic is severely affecting the UK and we have to act responsibly. It is the right thing to do.

“I can assure everyone that we have explored every option for playing The Open this year but it is not going to be possible.

“There are many different considerations that go into organising a major sporting event of this scale.

“We rely on the support of the emergency services, local authorities and a range of other organisations to stage the championship and it would be unreasonable to place any additional demands on them when they have far more urgent priorities to deal with.

“In recent weeks we have been working closely with those organisations as well as Royal St George’s, St Andrews Links Trust and the other golf bodies to resolve the remaining external factors – and have done so as soon as we possibly could.

“We are grateful to all of them for their assistance and co-operation throughout this process.

“Most of all I would like to thank our fans around the world and all of our partners for their support and understanding.

“At a difficult time like this, we have to recognise that sport must stand aside to let people focus on keeping themselves and their families healthy and safe.

“We are committed to supporting our wider community in the weeks and months ahead and will do everything in our power to help golf come through this crisis.”

Ireland’s James Sugrue, who won the 2019 Amateur Championship at Portmarnock – the R&A is waiting to decide if the 2020 championship can take place at Royal Birkdale, after the June date was postponed in March. Picture by THE R&A / GETTY IMAGES

Senior Open at Sunningdale ‘under review’

THE R&A’s remaining professional and amateur championships are also under review because of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

They include the Senior Open at Sunningdale, in August, and The Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire, which has been put back from its traditional June date, as well as the Women’s Amateur Championship and the Senior Amateur.

The R&A also organises the AIG Women’s British Open, which is set to be played at Royal Troon, in August, and which must also be in doubt now.

The British Boys Championship, held in August, is the R&A’s top junior event along with the Boys Home Internationals and The Girls Amateur, which has already been postponed from its July date.

Great Britain & Ireland are also due to face Continental Europe in the St Andrews Trophy, which the R&A organises alongside the European Golf Associtaion, while the juniors are due to contest the annual Jacques Leglisle Trophy, also in August.

Updates will be given on any further changes, an R&A spokesman added.

R&A will transfer tickets to 2021

THE R&A will transfer over tickets and hospitality packages purchased for the 2020 championship at Royal St George’s to The Open in 2021.

Purchasers who no longer wish to – or are no longer able to – attend in 2021 – whether as a result of the COVID-19 crisis or not – will receive a full refund.

Further information on the arrangements will be sent directly to ticket and hospitality purchasers in due course, said the R&A spokesman.

The post COVID-19 crisis forces R&A to move Open at Royal St George’s back to 2021 appeared first on Golf North.

Justin Rose in the suite named after him at North Hants Golf Club, including a picture of him putting in the Ryder Cup at Medinah in the famous 2012 comeback win.

HAMPSHIRE’S Justin Rose thinks European captain Padraig Harrington may need eight captain’s picks as a one-off selection policy for the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, in September.

Rose is determined that whatever happens to the Majors in 2020, the Ryder Cup should remain the highlight of the golfing calendar – and does not want it cancelled at this stage as some sources have predicted.

Debate over rearranging the Masters before the Ryder Cup in September – or after in October – has raged since Augusta National postponed April’s first Major of the season.

And with doubts over the US Open going ahead in June after Winged Foot was closed earlier this week – as a result of the coronavirus epidemic in New York – talk about whether Ryder Cup will go ahead has been intensifying.

Rose said: “Looking at it personally I’m not in as good a position as I’d like to be so it makes qualification trickier with events being stripped out – so the teams might look a little different this time around.

“If it goes ahead in 2020, I don’t know if it’s more important that we change the qualification criteria and Padraig gets eight picks maybe – given the circumstances?

“Rules are rules and you’ve got to have some type of guideline,” added Rose, a member at North Hants GC.

“But it’s an imperfect world at the moment and we’ve got to make the best of a bad situation.

“We either keep it where it is and the teams fall where they may, or you move it a year and try to make it a bit more of a highlight.

“The most important thing is that the health of the world is better,” added Justin, who is spending time at his Bahamas home during the current lockdown.

Rose, who blossomed in the county’s amateur ranks before becoming one of the biggest teenage talents in Europe in the mid 1990s, is concerned about what kind of schedule the top Europeans could be left facing when the Tours do get back under way.

With all European Tour golf officially cancelled until the end of May – and with the rising death toll in the UK from COVID-19 cases not expected to peak for another couple of weeks – the season’s main events could all get squeezed into a condensed season.

May’s USPGA Championship, at TPC Harding Park, in San Franciscio, which was called off – and could theoretically move to the slot in the calendar vacated now the Tokyo Olympics has been put back a year.

But reigning Olympic Champion Rose – who learned on Tuesday that he would not be able to defend the Gold Medal he won in Rio, in 2016 – is concerned about what knock-on affect the coronavirus epidemic could have on the Ryder Cup.

Rose said: “The Ryder Cup deserves to be the highlight of the schedule and deserves to have the players look forward to it and the fans to be excited about it.

“It would be a shame if it just kind of fell into a rhythm of golf and there wasn’t as much build-up.

“That’s what creates some of the excitement about the Ryder Cup, the talking about it for a year, the anticipation of it.

‘The qualification period for the Ryder Cup would also be very condensed.”

•You can see the current standings in qualifcation for Europe’s team by clicking here.

The post Rose may back eight picks for Harrington in Ryder Cup because of ‘imperfect season’ appeared first on Golf North.

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.

The post USPGA is second Major of season to be put on hold because of coronavirus appeared first on Golf North.

Martin Kaymer’s last win came six years ago at the US Open – the German feels his rediscovered consistency means the next win is not too far away. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

MARTIN Kaymer is hoping he can turn his recent consistency into a long-awaited win at the 2020 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

The German is a former European and World No. 1 with 11 European Tour wins – including two Major Championships.

But the last of those victories came nearly six years ago at the 2014 US Open Championship.

Kaymer, who lost a play-off in the 2015 Italian Open and surrendered a 10-shot lead in Abu Dhabi earlier that year, said recently he felt he had maybe been lacking focus over the last couple of years.

But after changing his trajectory to gain some length off the tee and working hard on his short game, the hero of Medinah – after holing the putt that won the 2012 Ryder Cup – has started his 2020 campaign with four consecutive top 20s.

The 35-year-old from Düsseldorf feels he is not far from ending his win drought, starting this week in the desert at Education City Golf Club, with this week’s event moving from its long-time home at Doha GC.

Kaymer, who is also happy to have Craig Connelly back on the bag after reuniting with the caddy, with whom he enjoyed his most successful spell, said: “I’ve been playing well.

“I’m working a lot on the short game, trying to get that putter in the right momentum.

“I’m very happy with the way I hit fairways, the way I hit greens, I’m playing very consistently and those top 16 finishes, it would be nice to make a couple more putts to actually have a chance to win.

“We had it already last week in Oman when it was really windy. Here it feels like it is more gusty so that will be very difficult.

“You will have some shots where you will get unlucky. It’s just a matter of accepting the good and the bad breaks and just go with it – there’s not much you can do.

“It’s always different,” Kaymer added. “In a tournament it really matters, to really understand and get to know the golf course in tournament mode – the way you play different holes.

“You’re going to play a bit more aggressive here and there,” added the German ace who has liking for the Desert Swing having won three times in four years, from 2008, at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.”

Kaymer spoke in Oman about his desire to not only win again – and get back in contention in more majors, but also his desire to play in the Olympics in Toyko – as well as earning a place in Padraig Harrington’s Ryder Cup team for Whistling Straits, where he won the 2010 USPGA.

Colsearts confident at Qatar Masters

KAYMER’S Miracle of Medinah team-mate Nicolas Colsaerts ended his seven-year winless run in the autumn at the Open de France, in October.

And after a top 20 in Oman last week, he too is feeling confident in the desert as he prepares for the 2020 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Colsaerts said: “Everything kind of falls into place. I think I’ve been playing well since my first round of the year.

“If you look at the results you always want to get a bit more out of your weeks, I probably wasn’t really efficient enough on the greens.

“I thought I had a good chance last week. I had a putt on 13 on Sunday that would have got me two shots off the lead and I was feeling pretty good.

“I went for the win for a long time and thought I had a pretty good sniff so I’m pretty happy about everything.”

•To follow live scoring in the first round of the Qatar Masters, click here.

The post Qatar Masters: Why Kaymer feels victory No. 12 is long overdue after six-year wait appeared first on Golf North.

Martin Kaymer is pleased to have caddy Craig Connolly back on his bag as he attempts to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2014. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

MARTIN Kaymer is hoping to continue his strong start to the 2020 Race to Dubai as he makes his debut at the Oman Open this week.

The German has finished in the top 20 in his three events so far as he looks to change his consistency of the last two seasons into the sort of form that made him the best in the world at the start of the last decade.

The 35-year-old already has a career that would stand up in any era, winning the Race to Dubai and two Major Championships.

He also reached No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings and holed the vital putt as Europe completed the Miracle of Medinah in the 2012 Ryder Cup – an event he would like to feature in in Wisconsin, in September, for obvious reasons.

After changing the trajectory of his driving to get more length off the tee, Kaymer has now turned his attention to his putting in his quest for a first win since the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst – happy that he has on old friend back on the bag as well.

The player who won his first ever Challenge Tour event in 2006, is focused on doing the work to get back to the top, starting this week at Al Mouj Golf.

Kaymer said: “I was just going with the flow the last two or three years and took my game for granted a little bit.

“I didn’t really work on one specific thing and the last few years it was quite clear where my weakness was in my game as I was losing a lot of shots on the green.

“Outside 10 feet I couldn’t make a putt and that led to me not scoring and shooting those low scores that give you an opportunity on the Sunday.

“I worked a lot on the short game over the winter and I also wanted to drive the ball further without screwing up my natural shot, and that takes some planning and communicating with the coach.

“For me, it was more of the mentality of continuing that process as I knew what the other outcome was and that didn’t quite work out for me the last two years.

“I wanted to and needed to change something and become an even more complete player to try and win tournaments again,” added Kaymer, who has also reunited with his old caddy Craig Connelly.

“I really miss that feeling,” Kaymer added. “This year I have a very good plan and I’m trying to qualify for all the big events such as the Ryder Cup, Olympic Games, Masters and The Open Championship.

“I’ve played in all those events before, but this year that’s not going to be the case so it’s something I’m looking forward to try and achieve.

“I can’t really tell you where my game is at right now, which is the exciting thing.” said Kaymer, whose second Major win came in that US Open victory at Pinehurst.

“I know I’m doing the right thing but I’ve just got be patient and let it happen.

“The expectations are quite high because you’re doing everything right and hitting 63 in a practice round.

“But you still need to do that in a tournament so it’s just a matter of time.”

Kaymer is convinced Connelly’s return will help that process.

“It’s nice once you’ve found somebody that you’ve been through the good and the bad times with” he revealed.

“More of the good times really, because we started working together in 2010 and I had a good few years – and he really understands me as a person.

“It’s more about the personality and finding someone that you get along with, understands you and what your goals are.

“He understands that and knows what I’m capable of so it’s nice to be reminded of that sometimes as you forgot.”

“We tend to focus on the things that we aren’t doing great,” said the winner of the 2010 USPGA at Whistling Straits – the venue for the 2020 Ryder Cup.

“But sometimes you need to be reminded of what you have already done in your career and good of a player you are.

“He is a very positive person and that has really helped me,” said Kaymer.

•To follow live scoring in the first round in Oman, click here.

The post Kaymer: Why caddy Craig Connelly is key to unlocking first win in six seasons appeared first on Golf North.

After a review involving elite amateurs and other bodies within the amateur and professional game, a new Rules of Amateur Status should be ready by January 2022 says the R&A and USGA. The current prize limit for amateurs is £500 in any one event

THE R&A and the USGA are conducting a review of the Rules of Amateur Status to make them easier to understand and apply.

The comprehensive evaluation is part of the continued joint effort to modernise the Rules of Golf by reducing complexity and ensuring they effectively guide how the game is played today.

Amateur golfers are currently restricted in winning prizes of more than £500 in any one competition, and can only play in professional golf events providing they wave their rights to prize money, before the competition begins.

More and more amateurs are testing the waters by playing in developments tours like the PGA EuroPro, the MENA, Alps Pro Golf and Gecko Tours to gain experience before taking the plunge and turning pro.

As part of a review process that began earlier this year, the governing bodies will seek the perspectives of different groups in the game as an integral component of the review process.

That will include elite amateur golfers, golf event organisers, national and professional golf associations, and other industry partners, including equipment manufacturers.

That will include the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) in the UK and Ireland, and the United States Professional Golfers’ Association, in the USA.

The aim is to provide the golf community with a modernised set of amateur status rules in late 2021, with the goal of an effective date of January 1, 2022.

R&A Rules director Grant Moir said: “We will be looking at the Rules of Amateur Status carefully and considering ways in which we can modernise them and bring them more into line with the way the modern sport is played.

“The code remains a fundamental framework for amateur golf and we will be listening to the views of players, officials and associations to give us a fully rounded view of how we can improve them.”

Thomas Pagel, senior managing director of governance at the USGA, said: “One of golf’s greatest benefits is that it can be played by all ages and played for a lifetime.

“It is our goal to ensure the fundamental concept of what it means to be an amateur golfer is clear and retained to promote fair competition and enjoyment for everyone, while still addressing many issues that seek to protect the game.

“This is a forward-thinking approach and engaging golfers is a key component of doing what’s best for golf.”

Hole-in-one rule to change in 2020

IN a separate move, with effect from January 1, 2020, The R&A and the USGA will introduce one change to Rule 3-2b of the Rules of Amateur Status, which regulates hole-in-one prizes.

The Rules will no longer limit the prize an amateur golfer may win when making a hole-in-one outside a round of golf, including “stand-alone” and “multiple-entry” hole-in-one events.

It is hoped the change will help to promote the game and cater to new audiences as well as eliminate unnecessary restrictions for event organisers, said a spokesman for The R&A.

According to The R&A, the purpose of the Rules of Amateur Status is to maintain the “distinction between amateur and professional golf and to ensure that amateur golf, which is largely self-regulating with regard to the Rules of Golf and handicapping, is free from the pressures that may follow from uncontrolled sponsorship and financial incentives.”

New Rule 3-2b will read as:–

“An amateur golfer may accept a prize in excess of the limit in Rule 3-2a, including a cash prize, for making a hole-in-one during a round of golf on a golf course.
“An amateur golfer may also accept a prize in excess of the limit in Rule 3-2a, including a cash prize, for making a hole-in-one during contests held outside a round of golf, including multiple-entry contests and contests conducted other than on a golf course (e.g., on a driving range, golf simulator, or putting green) provided in all cases that the length of the shot is at least 50 yards.”

•More information about the Rules of Amateur Status can be found by going to www.RandA.org and www.USGA.org

The post R&A: New interpretation of Rules of Amateur Status is on the way by January 2022 appeared first on Golf North.