The Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide will mark the return of on-site spectators to the PGA Tour following the Ohio state government’s approval of a comprehensive safety plan for the July 16-19 event at Muirfield Village.
This will be the first PGA Tour event to have on-site fans since The Players Championship in March, which was cancelled following the first round.
Ohio governor Mike DeWine had announced on Friday that they would allow casinos, amusement parks, water parks and other selected entertainment establishments to reopen in two weeks’ time, while noting that the Memorial Tournament’s spectator safety plan was set for approval.
The PGA Tour resumes next week with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Texas but without on-site spectators, as will the following four events leading up to the Memorial. This includes a new tournament sponsored by Workday a week prior to the Memorial at the same venue.
“The PGA Tour has been diligently working with host organizations, state and local government agencies and leading medical experts on health and safety plans for our Return to Golf events. These include – beyond our first several tournaments back – parallel plans that would include events both with and without spectators,” the PGA Tour noted in a statement.
“The news announced today by Ohio governor Mike DeWine is a very positive step for the PGA Tour and the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide as it relates to a phased approach in re-introducing a limited number of on-site fans and guests.
“We very much look forward to the return of spectators on a limited basis at the Memorial Tournament, July 13-19.”
Tournament organizers also paid tribute to the state government and health officials for their efforts in containing the pandemic.
“The Memorial presented by Nationwide would like to recognize the successful efforts led by governor DeWine, Lt. governor Husted and Dr. Amy Acton in the fight against the spread of Covid-19,” noted a statement issued by the Memorial Tournament.
“The State of Ohio has been a leader in identifying the tremendous threat that began to appear in January and was one of the first to take drastic action to curb the spread and reduce deaths. Their implemented plan has produced encouraging results and allowed for the slow process of opening the State to business and gradually allowing Ohioans to return to a level of normalcy, including the ability to permit patrons at this year’s Memorial.
“With the support of the PGA Tour, who the tournament has worked jointly with throughout this process, the Memorial is looking forward to partnering with State, County and City leadership, along with the Memorial Covid -19 Task Force, to offer the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide as an example of how public gathering events can be developed and implemented with approved and accepted protocols in place.”
