PGA Tour changes plan as no fans allowed at Memorial due to COVID-19

American golfer Tiger Woods plays a shot during the final round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, U.S., June 2, 2020. /VCG

The Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour said on Monday that next week's Memorial Tournament in Dublin Ohio, which was supposed to be the first since the circuit's return from a three-month COVID-19 hiatus to include spectators, will instead be held without fans.

The Jack Nicklaus-hosted event at Muirfield Village Golf Club had received state approval in mid-June to have limited attendance and planned to allow 20 percent maximum capacity on the property for the July 16-19 event.

But the PGA Tour said that due to the rapidly changing dynamics of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Memorial would instead go ahead as its sixth consecutive tournament without fans.

"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," PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a news release.

"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."

American golfer Bryson DeChambeau holds the winner's trophy at the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf event which was held without spectators in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., July 5, 2020. /VCG

As of Monday, COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have topped 2.9 million and the national death toll has passed 130,000, according to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University.

The Memorial will feature some of the biggest names in golf as world number one Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and five-time major winner Phil Mickelson of U.S. are among those who have already committed to the event ahead of Friday's deadline.

Ohio governor Mike DeWine said the decision to close the course to the general public was the right one.

"I know it was a difficult decision to make, but the organizers of the Memorial Tournament have put the health and safety of players and fans first," said DeWine.

Since the PGA Tour returned to action in June, it has held spectator-free tournaments in Texas, South Carolina, Connecticut and Michigan. Muirfield will host this week's Workday Charity Open, which will also be closed to the general public.

Six PGA Tour players have tested positive for COVID-19 through the first four tournaments.

Source(s): Reuters