PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – We all remember where we were a year ago when COVID-19 overtook the world with its axis.
In the game, it began with the NBA, when Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz suspended his season after testing positive for the virus. It was not long after the PGA Tour followed suit, canceling the Players Championship after one round and then suspending their season – as would be the case in all sports.
At the time, did anyone believe that a game would be played for the rest of the 2020 games?
After the pandemic closed in golf, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Mohanan and other governing bodies of the game had a good view of leadership and a dazzling game in which it was allowed to lead the game for the rest of the game. COVID-19 dark and at least some flickering light in normal condition.
Three months after closing, the PGA Tour resumed its season with the Charles Schwab Championship in June, while much of the country was still closed. And he saw this with a lot of skepticism.
There were nervous moments in the beginning, and at times some veins were cropped along with some positive cases between some players.
But the PGA Tour has operated, staying true to its protocol, and here we are this week, a year later: The TPC Sovereigns, along with the 2021 Players Championship, were allowed per day with some 10,000 spectators in the opening round on Thursday.
“On 13 March, three hundred and sixty days ago, in many ways it feels like a lifetime,” Monala said on Tuesday. “I sat with you [reporters] And discussed the cancellation of our flagship program at TPC Sovereigns. The tour, as gut-wrenching as time for our players, our fans, and our community, goes without saying that the days, weeks, and months our world has come to be compared to what we experienced that day.
“On that Friday morning, I had many different ideas, one of them being that even though we had no clue what to do, we would take what we were experiencing and turn it into a positive , Something that I think our game is better than any other. ”
The game, helped in part by Monahan, has done it.
As the PGA Tour resumed its season at Colonial, golf felt more like sports therapy, keeping it at least in a normal state.
“After being on those calls, there was a lot of concern about whether we would be able to play golf in 2020 and beyond,” Jordan Spieth said.
“When the NBA suspended its season, that’s when things became very real – for me at least,” Keegan Bradley said. “Then I woke up on Friday morning and got ready to play and the tournament was canceled and it was very intense. I think the tour has done an incredible job getting us back there. ”
Since the colonial period, the PGA Tour has conducted more than 8,600 COVID-19 tests and only 26 players have tested positive – a significantly lower percentage and testament to all who follow the protocol.
“When I look back, Jai gives Monahan a lot of props for what he said.” “It is easy to see how good a leader is when you are in good times.”
Charlie Hoffman, who was then chairman of the PGA Tour’s Players Advisory Council (PAC), said he remembered talking to Monahan on Thursday afternoon of the Players Championship last year, “trying to figure out what we were going to do are doing.”
“I felt that we might be able to finish that tournament,” Hoffman said. “At the end of the day, [Monahan] Perfect decision taken by canceling the tournament. He has taken some very strategic steps through the epidemic and coming out of it, and I think golf is in better condition now than it was a year ago. ‘
Rory McIlroy, who was recently voted as the new PAC chairman, said, “It is an incredibly slow 12-month feel, but at the same time it has gone really fast. Me Can’t believe we have come back here already. ”
When the first group of players leave to start the tournament on Thursday morning, Monahan will be in the first tee and it will be an emotional moment.
“I’m going to be proud,” Monahan said. “The most important thing is to come back here after a year, proud of our players, proud of all the cadets. Everyone has worked very hard to bring us back to this time.”
It will be a moment and a place Monahan will never forget where he was in his entire life.
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