McIlroy takes wait as golf shuts down over COVID-19
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland in action during the pro am event prior to the Barclays at the Ridgewood Country Club. PHOTO|FILE
Miami. World number one Rory McIlroy and other top golfers on Friday supported the decision to cancel The Players Championship and all US PGA Tour events for a month due to the coronavirus outbreak.
US PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who first said events would continue without spectators, changed his decision in the wake of shutdowns Thursday by nearly every major US sports group and called off the Players and the next three weeks of scheduled tournaments.
“Very disappointed to suspend the PGA season,” Monahan said Friday. “We tried to be as thoughtful as possible during this dynamic and challenging time.
“It ultimately became a matter of when, not if, we would need to call it a day.”
Barely two hours after Monahan spoke, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley announced the Masters would be postponed as well, delaying the traditional first major tournament of each year.
Augusta National typically closes during the summer so it’s likely looking at a fall date after the US PGA 2019-20 season playoffs, perhaps after the Ryder Cup in late September.
For now, the next possible event on the PGA schedule would be the Heritage on April 16-19 in South Carolina.
Asked when tour events might resume, Monahan said, “Give us a little bit of time... We’re going to make sure we protect the health and safety of all our constituents as we make that decision.”
Four-time major winner McIlroy, last year’s Players winner, supported the PGA shutdown and said his coach probably wouldn’t come from Ireland next week as planned as he prepares to be idled. “Spend some time at home and evaluate the situation and see where we go. It’s one of these things where we have to wait and see,” McIlroy said.
“You’re not going to stop playing golf. You’re going out there practicing, not knowing what you’re practicing for.”
Asked about when golf should resume, McIlroy replied: “Whenever the powers that be say it’s safe to do so.”The outbreak, which has claimed lives worldwide with uncertainty over how many more might be infected, has made competitions secondary.
“Sport is insignificant compared to what we’re dealing with.” said Northern Ireland’s 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell. “We’re talking about a major global problem. At the end of the day, professional sport means nothing in the lands of making the world safe again.”
Monahan shut the PGA down after the NBA, NHL and other major US sports events were called off. (AFP)
