Golf legend Jack Nicklaus has lauded the PGA Tour’s decision to suspend its schedule due to the escalating Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement issued yesterday, the 18-time Major winner also urged sports fans to be patient.
“This has been a day and week of incredible concern, confusion and frustration throughout the sporting world, and, more important, our world in general. But as it relates to sport, I applaud the decisions made and the actions taken by all the sporting organizations and ruling bodies, and we hope they produce the intended result, which is simply to keep people safe and not expose them to significant health risks.
“As an enormous sports fan myself, I hope the passionate fan bases behind every sport are able to pause, take a step back, and reflect on the importance behind the decisions made. Until this COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is resolved and until things resume with some normalcy, my friends, please be safe, be smart and stay healthy,” noted Nicklaus.
On Friday, the PGA Tour cancelled The Players Championship after one round had been played following concerns raised by players, as well as subsequent events leading to the Masters which itself was later announced as postponed. Half of the the US$15 million prizemoney in The Players was split equally between the 144 players who started, with each of them receiving US$52,083.33 .
Jay Monahan (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
The tour will not resume util at least the RBC Heritage on April 16-19. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan noted that they would continue to monitor the situation carefully.
“We need to continue to understand what’s happening on the ground in the markets where we would be returning to play, continue to work with our partners in those markets, continue to understand what’s happening with the CDC (Centres for Disease Control & Prevention) and the World Health Organization, and then ultimately that will guide our decision.
“We’re going to make sure that we protect the safety and well-being of all of our constituents as we make that decision,” said Monahan.
Most of the other international tours have been suspended for the next few months, including the LPGA, European Tour and Asian Tour. Other major professional sports leagues such as basketball’s NBA and football’s English Premier League have also been affected.
