AUGUSTA, Ga. — Any optimism that the following Masters will likely be restored to its complete glory of spring blooms and the never-ending refrain
of cheers used to be dampened most effective by way of the truth of the calendar and the new spikes in
coronavirus circumstances.
It has been 8 months since Augusta National mentioned it used to be suspending the Masters as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and 7 months because the membership focused two weeks earlier than Thanksgiving as essentially the most sensible time to play this 12 months.
“I’m hopeful that we will see improved conditions regarding this virus, but April is less than five months away, so there’s no assurance of that,” Masters Chairman Fred Ridley mentioned. “But we do have hopes that the tournament in April will be closer to normal than it is right now.”
There could be very little commonplace in regards to the 84th Masters, beginning with the outlet tee photographs from each the primary and the 10th tees. That hasn’t ever took place on a Thursday morning.
Abraham Ancer of Mexico, one in all 26 novices to the Masters, used to be taking part in his ultimate apply spherical on Wednesday at in regards to the time he would were collaborating within the Par 3 Contest, which used to be canceled. The
Par Three is leisure for the shoppers, and there are not any buyers this 12 months.
On Tuesday, Jon Rahm skipped a tee shot around the pond, onto the 16th inexperienced, and watched it roll the duration of the golf green, down the slope and into the cup. He raised his hands in birthday party. There used to be video. And that used to be about it.
“Just imagine the roars that would have created in a normal year,” Rory McIlroy mentioned. “It’s a different look. It’s November, and I think everybody just has to embrace that we’re here and we’re playing and that’s a great thing.”
In some respects, this Masters is a party of what golfing has carried out and a sendoff the game hasn’t ever had.
Except for World War II and the only time in 1971 when the PGA Championship moved to February in Florida, the Masters at all times has been the primary primary of the 12 months. That ceremony of spring used to be about greater than azaleas, dogwoods and the pursuit of a inexperienced jacket. For many, it signaled the beginning of golfing season, whether or not that intended taking part in or staring at.
“All the Masters I’ve watched over the years in Ireland, the golfing season started normally the weekend of the Masters,” British Open champion Shane Lowry mentioned. “That’s when everyone gets the clubs out of the garage and dusts off the cobwebs and gets out and starts playing. That’s when the weather starts to go from 6 degrees to about 12 (low 40s to low 50s Fahrenheit). And it only rains a little bit rather than loads.”
In November, it’s extra just like the finale.
The Masters already is the preferred of the majors as it’s held at the identical direction every 12 months and there’s a magic about Augusta National that creates such a lot drama.
Is there a greater solution to finish the 12 months?
Sure, there are two extra reputable PGA Tour occasions after the Masters. That’s no longer ordinary bearing in mind no different recreation has an extended season than golfing. But having a Masters in November reads like the general bankruptcy.
McIlroy, Lowry and Tiger Woods are a few of the many avid gamers who will put their golf equipment again within the storage.
Golf, like such a lot of different sports activities, wishes a feel-good end. The recreation used to be close down for 3 months on March 13. One of the majors, the British Open, used to be canceled. Golf resumed in June with a busy time table of just one week off — Thanksgiving — and no assurances of protected well being for any individual within the touring circus.
“I think when The Open Championship was canceled, I had serious doubts we’d play a Masters this year in 2020,” McIlroy mentioned. “I think the R&A were in a tough situation, the fact that if they pushed it back, the daylight in the U.K. just isn’t there to hold a field of 156. One of the nice things about the Masters is its limited field.”
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