Roundup: 2020 Masters Week Schedules

With no Masters to be played, the broadcast partners of Augusta National Golf Club will still supply us with several past events to view.

From CBS:

Saturday, April 11 

• THE MASTERS: 1975 (1:30-2:30 PM, ET) - The 1975 Masters Tournament unfolded with the greatest players of their generation – Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf – at the peak of their games and battling over four glorious days, creating drama and excitement that would help define this memorable tournament.

• FINAL ROUND – 2004 MASTERS TOURNAMENT (2:30-6:00 PM, ET) - “Is it his time? Yes! At long last!” proclaimed Jim Nantz as Mickelson earned his long-awaited Masters victory, and his first major, with an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole. The 18-footer broke a deadlock with Ernie Els to give Mickelson the one-stroke victory.  

Sunday, April 12

• FINAL ROUND – 2019 MASTERS TOURNAMENT (12:30-6:00 PM, ET) - “The Return to Glory!” In one of the most memorable Masters ever, Woods capped off his incredible comeback with his fifth Masters victory – his first in 14 years – over a crowded leaderboard featuring many of the game’s top players. Trailing by two strokes on Sunday heading to the famous 12th hole, Woods safely hit his tee shot on to the green while the players ahead of him faltered and put their shots into Rae’s Creek. Woods took the lead down the stretch and never looked back on his way to his 15th career major championship.

 From ESPN where the 1986 final round airs Wednesday:

ESPN will salute the Masters Tournament with encore presentations of the final rounds of two of Tiger Woods’ five wins, Jack Nicklaus’ stunning victory in 1986 and other classic editions of the iconic event at Augusta National Golf Club over three days beginning Wednesday, April 8.

Viewers will be able to watch Woods’ wins in the 1997 and 2005 Masters, with the final round of the 1997 event, his first Masters win, airing in prime time at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 9. The final round of his win in the 2005 Masters will air at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 10. In that event, Woods improbably chipped into the hole on the 16th at Augusta National, perhaps the most memorable shot of his storied career.

In 1986, Nicklaus shocked the golf world with his come-from-behind win, scoring his record-setting sixth Masters title as well as his 18th and final major championship. The final round airs Wednesday, April 8, at 3 p.m. On that same day, ESPN will open the salute at 1 p.m. with highlights from the 2018 Masters Par 3 Contest, an event highlighted by Nicklaus’ grandson (and caddie) G.T. Nicklaus scoring a hole-in-one as his proud grandfather watched. The Par 3 Contest re-airs at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

Also featured will be the final round from 2012, when Bubba Watson won the first of his two Masters green jackets, airing on Thursday at 2 p.m. Watson beat Louis Oosthuizen in a playoff with an incredible shot off the pine straw on the 10th to set up his winning putt.

The final round of the 2013 Masters, won by Adam Scott over Angel Cabrera in a playoff, airs Friday at 12:15 p.m. It remains the popular Australian’s only Masters win.

The airdates for the Masters salute coincide with the dates ESPN would have been televising the Masters Par 3 Contest and the first two rounds of this year’s event before it was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

Also, beginning next week ESPN+, the leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming service, will present an on-demand collection of official Masters Films, including highlights of nearly every Masters event since 1960.

From Golf Channel/NBC:

2019 Augusta National Women’s Amateur (NBC)

Airing Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC will be the encore broadcast of last year’s inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. A monumental day in golf and the overall sports landscape, Jennifer Kupcho captured the first edition of the event while battling Maria Fassi in the final pairing at the famed Augusta National Golf Club on the Saturday prior to the 2019 Masters. NBC’s telecast also will live stream viaGOLF Channel Digital. GOLF Channel also will air the final day Saturday at 9 p.m. ET.

Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals (2018, 2019)

GOLF Channel will televise both the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals from Augusta National Golf Club. The 2018 competition will air at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 4, while the 2019 National Finals will air Sunday at 8 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET.

During the 8 a.m. ET re-air of the 2019 National Finals, GOLF Channel will celebrate the 2020 national finalists with several dedicated features that will post on the network’s social media handles (@GolfChannel on Twitter and Facebook). The 2020 Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals is rescheduled for Sunday, April 4, 2021. All national finals participants scheduled to compete in the 2020 event will compete in 2021.

And of course the Masters YouTube channel has all of the final round broadcasts.

Golf's First World Distance Debate Seems Silly In A Very Different Way

I opened up Mike Stachura’s Golf Digest story titled, “The distance resistance”, and couldn’t help but notice the editor’s note: “This article appeared in our latest issue, which went to print in the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.”

In light of thousands of tragic deaths in just weeks, the specter of a massive economic downturn, and uncertainty about what tomorrow will bring, worrying about driving distance seems so…silly.

But more than the absurdity, reading some pre-March 2020 concerns you feel teh undercurrent of distrust of authorities (even if the R&A and USGA are seen as thinking of golf’s long-term viability). The story also hints at the marketplace’s determination to protect the right to spend $600 to pick up 6-yards, no matter the damage done.

That’s why it was a shrewd editor’s note.

Whenever a form of normalcy returns, the excessive weight given to views on distance will all seem so insignificant. Just as there will be a heightened expectation for authorities and companies to be better prepared in the future, it’s not unreasonable to think a similar sentiment will persist in sports.

While there will always be golfers eager to spend $600 on a driver merely to keep up with someone else, even more will find all of that to be of such secondary importance.

Stachura writes:

That future will be about this push and pull between maintaining a connection to golf’s past and embracing the realities of its future participants. The questions we need to ask now are: Would 400-yard drives at a tour event be a tragedy? Would this signal that golf’s connection with its historic championship venues had been severed? Will the cartoonish swing speeds of today’s long-drive competitors become the standard for tomorrow’s PGA Tour players? Would the bond between golf’s elite players and its paying customers be broken or heightened by extraordinary driving distances?

The days of worrying about the answers already seems long gone.

Shrewd editor’s note.

The “authorities” in all sectors will be expected to do what’s best for the long term good. Including in sports and in golf.

Just a few weeks time, certain values held up as vital to golf’s future now seem trivial, particularly the idea that people play golf to see how far they can hit the ball or watch golf for the distance chases.

Given that every golfer current deprived of golf just wants to be out playing again, how far their drives fly seems like an excess of negligible importance. The short and long term viability of courses was, is and will be all that matters.

Report: R&A To Cancel The 2020 Open Championship

Until now, golf’s leading organizations have been in postponement mode, but with Wimbledon’s cancellation we appear to have the R&A’s decision on The Open: cancellation.

Joel Beall and Brian Wacker with the first report for GolfDigest.com. This will be the first year without an Open since 1945 and also the first major championship cancelled since then.

This was noteworthy as well:

Similar to Wimbledon, the R&A has a policy that shields against a global pandemic, and a source indicated the Open would have to cancel by a certain date in order to collect on its insurance premium.

“The R&A is the most [insured] of all the tournaments,” a source said. “They have complete cancellation insurance. I just don’t see any golf [being played] before August.”

An early fall Open would have required reducing the field plenty of other scheduling headaches. Still, this would be a massive blow to fans, players and organizers knowing what this championship means to all involved.

**The R&A’s statement:

STATEMENT FROM THE R&A ON THE 149TH OPEN AT ROYAL ST GEORGE’S

2 April 2020, St Andrews, Scotland: In light of recent media speculation, we would like to clarify the position regarding The 149th Open.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are continuing to work through our options for The Open this year, including postponement. Due to a range of external factors, that process is taking some time to resolve. We are well aware of the importance of being able to give clear guidance to fans, players and everyone involved and are working to resolve this as soon as we can. We will give a further update as soon as we are in a position to do so and thank everyone for their support and understanding in this challenging situation.”

As Alistair Tait notes, the inevitable shake-up to the Open schedule will have consequences for both Kent and St. Andrews, the next two host towns.

Postponement: April Fools Eyes Fall Schedule Slot

Sorry, that’s all I’ve got this year. Following a day hundreds of Americans succumbed due to an awful virus, April Fools quietly agreed to postpone until fall.

But hey, when you’ve been around for over fifteen years, there are archives.

Some age better than others and hopefully the next April Fool’s Day will feel more jovial. A few recent favorites based on theme.

Masters, Masters, Masters: Sergio gets his own dedicated walking official, Justine Reed the first spouse to attend Champions Dinner, when Billy Payne joined Twitter, Club precautions for Tiger’s wedge issues, Poulter and McDowell lose invites after social posts.

Involving A Future President, Division: Donald Trump is admitted to Augusta National, and he buys Bandon Dunes.

Pisser offers: Sweater folders and the May PGA, USGA needing a liason between staff and committees, the R&A continuing their odd locations for merch tents.

Media Matters: Golf Digest forms ranking of golf’s top Task Forces, British Press pre-celebrates a Rory 2015 Grand Slam, Charlie Rymer named grand marshal of The Villages parade.

NGF Survey Of U.S. Courses And Clubs: Where Golf Is Open For Business, Consumer Confidence And Other Notes

The National Golf Foundation has been busy surveying course owners as well as studying other data to give an update in the U.S. golf industry as of March 31, 2020.

From President Joe Beditz’s letter explaining the effort:

 To begin with, over the course of this past week NGF conducted a telephone poll of just over 1,000 golf courses nationwide to objectively assess the impact of the coronavirus on golf course operations. We’ll continue to poll courses in the weeks ahead so we can track these effects and as we more fully turn our attention to studying the human and business impacts of this pandemic.
 
The findings of our golf facility poll are the centerpiece of a new COVID-19 webpage we’ve created that also provides key data regarding which states have placed restrictions on golf, course operators’ perceptions, consumer research that reveals how playing and purchasing behaviors have been affected, and other interesting information. Click here to see the results of our poll and check out the rest of the site: www.thengfq.com/covid-19

Among the topics covered in the survey research:

—As of March 27, 2020 an estimated 74% of in-season U.S. golf courses remain open despite the coronavirus pandemic.

—Golf rounds were up significantly (+15.2%) thru February.

—Core golfers who were planning on equipment purchases now suggest they'll simply delay. We'll continue to monitor this sentiment.

—Roughly 35% of independent/regional golf retailers remain open.

The one genuinely confounding finding no matter how you feel about whether golf should be played right now: the number of surveyed courses NOT restricting access to confined spaces beyond the 87% for dining areas:

"I thought it would be amusing to commentate on my dogs eating dinner--next thing I know, it's gone viral"

Today in much needed virus distraction news, The Telegraph’s James Corrigan catches up with the BBC’s Andrew Cotter about the sports broadcaster’s unintentionally viral dog-dining commentary. (8.2 million views as of this post.)

Golf fans should recognize his voice and his work in the podcast sphere (including a new just recently dropping co-hosted by Eddie Pepperell). And if you haven’t seen it…

I was bored. pic.twitter.com/bVoC0hyNzC

— Andrew Cotter (@MrAndrewCotter) March 27, 2020

"Old-style frugality pays off for PGA pro in uncertain times"

Andrew Both of Reuters checks in with Australian Cameron Percy, a PGA Tour journeyman who observes quite a bit about the current shutdown. Of particular note is Percy’s perspective “borne of a modest Australian upbringing and an acknowledgement of the precarious nature of his profession even at the best of times.”

From Both’s piece:

“Every pro I’ve ever known has had a year where they’ve played like crap,” the amiable 45-year-old said at the Country Club of Wakefield Plantation course where he lives with his wife and three boys adjacent to the second hole in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“I’ve always put money aside in case (of loss of form or injury). I drive a $20,000 car (Nissan Altima), don’t have a boat. Mum and dad taught me to save.

“My accountant is always suggesting I put money in the stock market but most of it is in the bank. What I’ve found from this (pandemic-related economic contraction) is that people don’t save any money any more.”

Percy is currently appreciating time resting his injured wrist, the result of a freak fall. Adam Stanley with Percy’s story overcoming the injury to regain his card.

Add Summit Golf Brands To The List Of Small Companies Doing Their Part

GolfDigest.com’s Sam Weinman chats with Summit Golf Brands’ creative director Billy Draddy about their move into N95 masts. The Wisconsin-based manufacturer of Fairway & Greene, Zero Restriction and B. Draddy golfwear designed a prototype mask and has had it approved for emergency-care workers near its Wisconsin plant.

From the Q&A:

Q: So a part of you is busy with that and part is surely paying attention to what’s happening in the world. At what point did you realize you might be able to help?

A: A week ago Thursday, we got an email through our customer-service department from one of our customers who had suggested that we could make masks for emergency-care workers. I spent the weekend developing a first prototype. We got on a conference call on Monday to discuss, then looped in our Wisconsin warehouse team who would be responsible for executing. I sent my first prototype out to them. Then through our in-house embroidery and heat-sealing machinery developed two prototypes that we then took to the Wisconsin Emergency Management Agency.

Yet another small company with a passion for the sport doing its part. Well done!

In other news, Seamus Golf has reopened their online store after spending the last week focused on mask-making that continues on. Requests can still be made by emergency workers at SeamusGolf.com.

COVID-19: Augusta National Golf Club Donating $2 Million To Assist Augusta-Area Causes

The Augusta Chronicle’s Wynston Wilcox reports on Augusta National Golf Club’s donation of $2 million to help Augusta University expanding COVID-19 testing in the region and an emergency fund for the most vulnerable populations.

The release states that $1 million will go to Augusta University to expand testing in the area. Another $1 million will be given to the COVID-19 CSRA Emergency Fund, launched by the Community Fund and the United Way of the CSRA to “directly support relief efforts for the most vulnerable populations affected by the Coronavirus pandemic in the community.”

AU president Brooks Keel expressed his gratitude for the donation.

“Augusta University is incredibly grateful for the generosity and leadership of the Augusta National Golf Club and the Community Foundation to support these important efforts,” Keel said. “This gift is an immediate and important contribution to the expansion of our COVID-19 screening and testing efforts. It provides us with needed resources to limit the spread of the virus through quicker identification and treatment. There is no doubt that because of this gift, many lives will be saved.”

Roundup: Majors Jockeying For Fall Positions, PGA Tour Aiming For Mid-May Restart, Irish Open Postponed

Given the fluidity of the situation and the overall unlikelihood of a significant event being played for some time, I find the hope of at least seeing some tournaments later this year a decent diversion.

Ron Green covered all of this in his Global Golf Post look at the best case scenario planning, including the challenge of the majors trying to be played on television against the NFL and college football games that could resume.

Television factors into the equation as well, with the behemoth that is the NFL seemingly still ready to re-emerge in September. CBS, which televises the Masters, and Fox Spots, which airs the U.S. Open, would have serious scheduling issues.

GolfDigest.com's Joel Beall and Brian Wacker have tried to decipher sources and tea leaves to figure out a possible major schedule that starts with a late July PGA, a September Open Championship, an October U.S. Open and an early November Masters. The latter two would have to reduce their field size given the length of days and time it takes to move a field around.

This schedule, admittedly a best-case-scenario situation, would appear to be working around the PGA Tour’s playoff events. However, it’s hard to imagine many outside of Ponte Vedra Beach would prefer to see the playoff events contested over majors, particularly if the Grand Slam events have to reduce…playing opportunities by playing when the days are shorter. Graeme McDowell has already echoed the sentiment that majors take priority over all else. Common sense says the playoffs should come after the majors.

Green in his GGP column also featured this quote from Kevin Kisner regarding the PGA Tour’s thinking on a mid-May restart.

“The No. 1 thing we need to do is get back to work. They may try to expand some fields so guys can catch up with playing opportunities but it all depends on when we go back.”

The intention to return in mid-May at Colonial was echoed in this Daniel Rappaport story about the PGA Tour’s loan program for players based on their FedExCup status.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open has been postponed, meaning the earliest restart in Europe would come in June.

The European Tour’s statement:

Postponement of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open

The European Tour today confirmed the postponement of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open due to the continuing threat posed by the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The tournament was scheduled to be the European Tour’s second Rolex Series event of 2020, taking place at Mount Juliet Estate from May 28-31, with Major Champion Graeme McDowell as host. 

Keith Pelley, European Tour Chief Executive, said: “The decision to postpone the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open follows consultation with all stakeholders and was made with public health and well-being as our absolute priority. Our thoughts are with everyone right now and we are all united in trying to fight the spread of the pandemic. 

“With this in mind, we will continue to evaluate all aspects of our 2020 European Tour schedule, and discussions on the rescheduling of postponed events will remain ongoing until we have clarity on the global situation.”

And the Tokyo Olympics have been rescheduled for next July 23 to August 8th, meaning we get to do schedule “compaction” all over again next year. Oddly, that tedious topic seems refreshingly quaint these days.

Today In Much-Needed Diviersionary Reading: Bobby Jones' Rarely Seen Ideal 18

Nice spot by Jim Nantz using his April Golf Digest column to share a rarely-seen list of Bobby Jones’ ideal 18 holes. And I’ve verified that unlike other National Golf Review rankings, this one is real!

It’s a peculiar list in the way Jones structured his course and in the holes he chose from St. Andrews, National Golf Links and Pine Valley. But isn’t that the fun of constructing a dream 18 from existing courses?

Anyway, check out how Nantz stumbled on the list and how he got it verified by the great Sid Matthew. As he writes, “Jones’ dream 18 is one of the more exciting modern Jones discoveries.”

In order of surprise/wish I knew more: Jones choosing the 8th at St. Andrews for a par-3, the 10th at National Golf Links and the 4th at Pine Valley. All superb holes but still intriguing those edged out many others or even better holes at those courses.

Stenson On Golf In The COVID-19 Era, Update On Pete Cowen

The Guardian’s Ewan Murray spoke to Henrik Stenson about having little desire to practice with no tournaments looming and hundreds of thousands suffering due to the COVID-19 virus and gets this perspective.

“There’s a lot of fun stuff available for the kids and for us here [at the family home in Florida] but I’m not sure I should mention that when you have someone locked in an apartment and can’t go outside,” Stenson says. “It’s disastrous on a global level from people being really sick to losing their lives, to the world economy plummeting. Anyone who lives paycheque to paycheque is going to feel this. Everyone will to a degree but it feels corny if I am going to complain when people are losing their jobs.”

He also gives an update on his coach, Pete Cowen, who he says did test positive for the virus but who he believes will “get through” it.

“He picked it up on his travels, from what I understand,” Stenson says. “I hope and believe he wasn’t contagious when I last saw him. I think he will get through it but he has been feeling pretty bad.”

PGA Of America Will Be Collecting Member Dues Despite COVID-19 Shutdown

Facing the prospect of a shutdown in the busiest time of year for America golf professionals, some organization members are unhappy at the recent PGA Of America dues call.

Jonathan Doctor, owner of JMJ Golf, filed an open letter to the PGA of America after the organization emailed members moving ahead with their normal dues payments for its 28,000 members.

Even with most golf professionals facing the prospect of reduced or no income, the organization reminded members in an email that dues must be paid on time despite the coronavirus shutdown.

However, the PGA did voice empathy in their email:

PGA Professionals will now have two payment options: Pay full dues amount any time through July 31, 2020 without penalty or late fee. Pay Section dues amount only any time through July 31, 2020 without penalty or late fee. Pay National dues ($100), Life ($44), Liability ($12 and MAP ($6) by October 31, 2020 without penalty or late fee.

“During these extraordinarily challenging times for so many PGA Professionals, we have worked closely with our 41 sections to find the best path forward regarding 2020 dues payments,” said PGA President Suzy Whaley. “While we wish it was possible to waive dues for all members, as a 501(c) 6 not-for-profit organization, IRS regulations do not allow us to take such an action.

Doctor, in questioning the dues reminder in the heat of an unfolding pandemic (as per the organization by-laws, it should be noted), writes:

Maybe the view from Palm Beach Gardens is a little hazy, but the $70 billion dollar global golf industry isn't as healthy as that number would lead people to believe. Expenses to operate facilities have never been higher. Social regard for the game and for country clubs has never been more critical. Available talent to fill positions in golf facilities has never been more scarce. And the PGA Professional is without doubt the facility owners and management groups automatic reset button for cutting a budget and showing facility savings to the bottom line. It has become more difficult than ever to justify to facilities, members and students, as well as young professionals the need to even BE a PGA Member.

As of its most recently available tax documents for the 2018 tax year, the non-profit PGA of America has about $360 million in net assets and fund balances.

But as noted, the dues collection is in their by-laws as part of their 501(c) 6 status.

European Tour's Finest: "I am not your hero"

With their fingers on the pulse of the world and not their pocketbook, some of the European Tour’s finest chime in for a perfectly timed message as thousands suffer and brave souls try to help them. Thanks to reader Shotmaker for highlighting this…

Thank you to our real heroes. Stay safe everyone. pic.twitter.com/cuSpew8yqc

— Tommy Fleetwood (@TommyFleetwood1) March 28, 2020

Linksoul's T-Shirt To Benefit The Center For Disaster Philanthropy

The Carlsbad clothier of quality gear is asking $40 for this Geoff Cunningham-designed t-shirt to provide funds for the Center For Disaster Philanthropy.

Linksoul writes on Instagram:

They have a COVID-19 direct relief fund that specifically helps the most vulnerable populations affected by this crisis, including hourly wage workers, the elderly, and those with disabilities. They also connect with NGOs to provide desperately needed supplies to those on the front lines in our hospitals. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
We are accepting pre-orders immediately and expect to ship this limited edition t-shirt by the end of April. Order today, and we will keep you updated by email.⁣⁣ (Link in bio to shop)⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Together, we can #flattenthecurve. We'd love for you to help shape our community's conversations in the days and weeks to come. Reach out to us on here, or comment below to share your thoughts - we're here for you.⁣⁣⁣
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Look out for one another, and be well. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
The Linksoul Family⁣⁣

View this post on Instagram

Like many of you, our thoughts are with those impacted by COVID-19, their loved ones, and all of our communities. We at Linksoul are working from home in an effort to help #flattenthecurve. But with your help, we can do much more.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ We posted this design by @parnography last week, where you suggested we make it into one of our soft t-shirts. We heard you loud and clear, and not only did we create the shirt, we are giving 100% of the proceeds to Center for Disaster Philanthropy.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ CDP is a top charity in transparency and accountability, as recognized by Charity Navigator. They have a COVID-19 direct relief fund that specifically helps the most vulnerable populations affected by this crisis, including hourly wage workers, the elderly, and those with disabilities. They also connect with NGOs to provide desperately needed supplies to those on the front lines in our hospitals. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ We are accepting pre-orders immediately and expect to ship this limited edition t-shirt by the end of April. Order today, and we will keep you updated by email.⁣⁣ (Link in bio to shop)⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Together, we can #flattenthecurve. We'd love for you to help shape our community's conversations in the days and weeks to come. Reach out to us on here, or comment below to share your thoughts - we're here for you.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Look out for one another, and be well. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ The Linksoul Family⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #linksouldier #community #flattenthecurve #lowstinger #listentoyourcaddie #thintowin #backofyourstance #closetheface #wegotthis

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