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Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, which is to host back-to-back PGA Tour events this and next week, has decided that neither event will have fans. While the decision not to have fans for this week’s Workday Open, which came in as a one-time event when John Deere Classic was cancelled, had been announced long back, the Tour has envisaged the return of fans for the Return to golf in the week of the memorial, hosted by Jack Nicklaus. That was to be next week from July 16-19.
The PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, however, released a statement regarding the change that the Memorial will also not have any fans. The plan was to allow up to 8,000 fans per day with social distancing measures in place and with no bleachers or grandstands.
The Memorial was also to be the first event that had a pre-tournament pro-am with 27 groups including a pro and three amateurs. But that has also been cancelled.
The Muirfield Village designed by Nicklaus in the early 1970, will this week see the 157-man field at Workday Charity Open and the Memorial will be a 120-player invitational. The event was founded by Nicklaus in 1976.
The tournament’s official site said, “The news comes as many of the world’s best players arrive at Muirfield Village Golf Club for an unprecedented two-week swing at the “Course that Jack Built” — the Workday Charity Open this week, followed by the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, with the 45th edition of the Tournament being staged July 14-19.”
The PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan added, “We applaud the leadership, diligence and partnership it took from Jack Nicklaus, Dan Sullivan, the entire Memorial Tournament staff and State, County and City leadership to build a solid plan that would allow for limited fan attendance at next week’s event,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan.
“But given the broader challenges communities are facing due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we need to stay focused on the No. 1 priority for our Return to Golf — the health and safety of all involved. While this was a difficult decision, it was one made collectively, and we are appreciative of the process undertaken to this point that will allow us to welcome on-site fans when the time is right. In the meantime, we have no doubt that the Memorial Tournament will once again be an incredible championship and deliver the best competitive environment for our players and utmost entertainment to our fans around the world.”
The Ohio Governor Mike DeWine approved in mid-June a phased approach to allowing on-site fans and guests, Memorial Tournament officials announced several elements of their COVID-19 activation protocols designed to allow for a 20 percent maximum capacity on property, encompassing patrons and private venues, as well as essential staff needed to operate the Tournament.
Monahan went on to say, “”In the meantime, we have no doubt that the Memorial Tournament will once again be an incredible championship and deliver the best competitive environment for our players and utmost entertainment to our fans around the world.”
The tournament also an email to patrons and said: “With the support of Nationwide and local government, officials cancel plans to be among first professional sports leagues with fan attendance; decision made out of an abundance of caution, as focus heightens on player experience and television presentation.”
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