McIlroy, Johnson to feature in $3 mln golf charity event amid pandemic
CGTN
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the 10th hole during the first round of The Players in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, March 12, 2020. /VCG

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the 10th hole during the first round of The Players in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, March 12, 2020. /VCG

Rory McIlroy will team up with Dustin Johnson to take on American duo Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff in a 3-million-U.S.-dollar charity skins match on May 17 as televised golf returns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the PGA Tour said. 

No spectators will be allowed to access the event to be held in Juno Beach, Florida. It will follow strict social distancing guidelines and use appropriate testing measures to help protect the health of those involved. 

This would be the first televised golf event since the COVID-19 pandemic brought sport around the world to a standstill in March. 

"I hope we can provide some respite and entertainment for those tuning in across the globe. Dustin and I will have a lot of fun together and our games will fit well as we push to raise funds and awareness," world No. 1 McIlroy said. 

Dustin Johnson of the United States reads a putt on the 18th green during the first round of The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, March 12, 2020. /VCG

Dustin Johnson of the United States reads a putt on the 18th green during the first round of The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, March 12, 2020. /VCG

All proceeds will go toward COVID-19 relief efforts, with McIlroy and Johnson playing for the American Nurses Foundation and Fowler and Wolff playing for the CDC Foundation. 

The European Tour also announced a series of virtual tournaments on Monday that will kick off on May 9 to aid coronavirus relief efforts. 

Players including Martin Kaymer, Joost Luiten, Mike Lorenzo Vera, Lee Westwood and Bernd Wiesberger will take part from their own homes in tournaments played virtually on some of Europe's most iconic courses. 

The golf calendar has been severely impacted by the outbreak, with three of the sport's four majors re-scheduled and the British Open canceled.  

The U.S. PGA Tour last month said it planned to resume in June, with the first four events due to take place without spectators. 

(With input from agencies)