The Players Championship at Sawgrass has been abandoned due to concerns over the Coronavirus. The first round was played yesterday in Florida and plans were in place to play the final three rounds over the weekend but without any audience at the course.

Overnight though the US PGA Tour issued the following statement.

“It is with regret that we are announcing the cancellation of the Players Championship.”a

“We have also decided to cancel all PGA TOUR events – across all of our Tours – in the coming weeks, through the Valero Texas Open.”

“We have pledged from the start to be responsible, thoughtful and transparent with our decision process. We did everything possible to create a safe environment for our players in order to continue the event throughout the weekend, and we were endeavouring to give our fans a much-needed respite from the current climate. But at this point – and as the situation continues to rapidly change – the right thing to do for our players and our fans is to pause.”

There must also now be grave concerns over whether the US Masters will take place in early April. This ‘period of pause’ expires before that but there will be serious questions over whether players who have been in Europe will be allowed entry to the US given the travel ban and the prospect of the tournament being lost is now very real.

The European Tour does not come back to Europe until May but the Hero Indian open which is under its auspices has also been abandoned on medical advice and the sport is very much staying to local recommendations on a public health basis.

Yesterday afternoon the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union issued a joint statement which cancelled a number of events scheduled to take place and issuing guidance for clubs on how to take precautions.

Highlighting that “Golf is a great sport for people generally to get out and about, exercise and enjoy the fresh air. It is played in an outdoor setting where the risk of contracting COVID-19 is low,” the statement did, however, make common-sense reference to the vulnerabilities that clubs face and how they can be mitigated.

  • The older age profile of golf club memberships than of the general population must be borne in mind
  • Groups having close and prolonged contact should be avoided.
  • The social aspect of golf clubs should be curtailed, including limiting the potential for the following types of social interaction in accordance with the guidelines as issued today.
  • Siren starts with people congregating before and after are discouraged for the time being.
  • Prolonged near contact as may happen during Bridge nights, Choir practices and other clubhouse-based activities is to be avoided.
  • Visitors either require some form of screening or should be discouraged for the time being.
  • Society bookings where food and social interaction is involved afterwards should be limited in accordance with the latest guidance issued by
  • Common courtesies – handshakes and other embraces associated with the etiquette of the game – should be avoided and participants may bump elbows or fists as an alternative.
  • Social meals for groups in the clubhouse, including at inter-club matches, should be avoided

Golf Clubs should observe the need for the following:

  • Increase social distancing through greater space between seating in the clubhouse
  • Availability of hand sanitisers
  • Regular changing of towels
  • Ask members not to come into the clubhouse with colds or any symptoms of COVID-19
  • Regular cleaning of surfaces including door handles – hourly in public places

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