As the various tours are losing millions each week in TV and sponsorship income and the Coronavirus trundles on the R&A continues to put out woolly statements about continuing to look at the options. Given the likely time frames for the lifting of social distancing and the issues over international travel, the R&A must postpone.
Phil Mickelson has indicated that a rematch with Tiger Woods may be in the pipeline and a possibility during the pandemic lockdown. Talk is of a repeat of the last match that took place in 2018 when Lefty took the spoils of $9 million.
Europe's Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington has scotched the stories of this September's event being moved back a year to 2021 saying that the reports were "made-up stuff". Social media had been awash with suggestions that the match which is due to take place from 25th to 27th September at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin was to be a further casualty of Coronavirus.
The LPGA has announced it is postponing three tournaments amid the fears over the Coronavirus pandemic, including the first major on the 2020 golf calendar, the ANA Inspiration.
Whether we think it is an overreaction or not, it is looking like a chaotic outlook for the golf calendar as a result of the Coronavirus. Two further European Tour have been postponed and add in the President Trump travel ban and the future for European golfers in particular is looking dim.
Before you get too excited it is Bryson DeChambeau’s ball speed that is going north rather than his pace around the paddock! The man who spent the majority of the off-season pumping iron showed off the results of that work ahead of the Player’s Championship.
Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player will receive the highest honour a civilian can receive from President Trump at a ceremony on 23rd March. Sorenstam learned of the honour last year after a game of golf where she and Senator Lindsey Graham took on Gary Player and President Trump.
Trial by television was with us again at the Bay Hill Classic on Thursday. No Patrick Reed this time but rather the squeaky-clean Justin Rose. Rose had a tricky chip from the back of the 11th which he ran some 10 feet past the pin but did he move the ball at address?
GolfPunk favourite Paige Spiranac has spoken out about the horrendous experience of having an explicit private photograph leaked to the world. The 26-year-old who has a social media following of two million-odd people sent the picture to a man she was dating, but he decided to do the dirty when they broke up.
Martin Slumbers, the R&A chief executive, recently stated that “Golf has to change” when referring to the restrictive dress regulations at golf clubs as one of the reasons why prospective players are put off, with membership levels down across the UK. Fashion brands Lyle & Scott are in total agreement as borne out by their recent collaboration.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that the medal presented each year to the winner of the U.S. Women’s Open Championship has been renamed in Mickey Wright’s honour and redesigned with an image of her iconic swing, ensuring that every future champion is forever linked to one of golf’s greatest pioneers and competitors.
It was a worrying time for the European Tour as Italian golfers Edoardo Molinari and Lorenzo Gagli were quarantined in Muscat and originally forced to pull out of the Oman Open over fears they may have contracted the coronavirus. However, the pair will now play, partnering each other after Gagli’s test proved negative.
