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Golf return most likely to be without fans

The rescheduled PGA Championship will be the first major on the reconfigured 2020 golf calendar but it remains to be seen if fans will be allowed to attend.

By Australian Associated Press
   

The PGA Championship plans to be at Harding Park in San Francisco in early August as the first major on the reconfigured golf calendar.

Still to be determined is whether Harding Park needs to bother building stands for spectators.

"We believe that holding it without fans is a possibility, something we should try to do if we have to," said Seth Waugh, the CEO of the PGA of America.

The PGA Championship is still months away and golf, much like other sports, doesn't have a starting line yet.

The PGA Tour was looking at the potential of a mid-June start, although plans can change quickly.

Even so, Waugh said the PGA is looking at various options to be prepared.

"Plan A is to play with fans at Harding Park," he said.

"Plan B is no fans.

"Plan C is to call an audible if indeed we need to try to play it somewhere we can safely."

Meanwhile, according to a British newspaper, the European Tour is warning its players that everything from prize money to player services will be different when golf resumes.

The Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday it has obtained a memo from chief executive Keith Pelley to members that outlines the sobering effect of the coronavirus that has shut down most global sports since early March.

Eight tournaments have been postponed. Five others, including the British Open, have been cancelled.

The next event still on the schedule is the BMW International Open in Germany from June 25-28.

Pelley said the pandemic has stopped the tour's momentum in tournaments and prize money and will require it to reassess how it goes forward.

"The reality is, the pandemic is going to have a profound impact on the tour financially, as well as many of our partners, both in sponsorship and broadcast areas," he said.

The European Tour started the year with a schedule of 46 events held in 31 countries, which includes the four majors and four World Golf Championships.

To salvage the season, Pelley suggested in the memo that when golf resumes, there could be multiple tournaments in the same location, two tournaments in the same week or as many as four tournaments in consecutive weeks in the United Kingdom - even playing "behind closed doors if necessary".


Senior GB Open could happen later in year

Organisers of the Senior British Open are optimistic the event can still go ahead later in 2020 after it was postponed on Tuesday amid the coronavirus outbreak.

By Steve Douglas, Australian Associated Press
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The Senior British Open was postponed on Tuesday amid the coronavirus outbreak, with organisers still hoping the last senior major of the year can be played in 2020.

The event, due to take place at Sunningdale from July 23-26, is the fourth of the five senior majors to lose its scheduled place on the calendar because of the pandemic.

The Senior PGA Championship and the U. Senior Open have been cancelled, while the Regions Tradition has been rescheduled for September 24-27 from early May.

The Senior Players Championship, scheduled for Firestone Country Club in Ohio from July 9-12, hasn't been called off yet.

A week after the regular British Open was cancelled for the first time since 1945 and effectively pushed back 12 months so it can still be held at Royal St. George's in 2021, the senior version was called off but not scrapped for the year, despite the challenges posed by limited daylight hours as it gets away from the summer.

"We will continue to investigate alternative options to host the Senior Open later in the year if at all possible," said Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director for championships at the R&A, "and will make an announcement in due course."

Bernhard Langer is the defending champion, after winning at Royal Lytham last year.


Aussie golf duo retain British Open spots

Australian Open champion Matt Jones and Aaron Pike's qualification for the British Open have been extended until the rescheduled 2021 tournament in 2021..

By Melissa Woods, Australian Associated Press
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Dual Australian Open winner Matt Jones and Aaron Pike will retain their places in the field for the British Open despite the golf major being delayed a year.

World No.92 Jones and Pike qualified to play at Royal St George's via last year's national Open, held at The Australian Golf Club in December.

Queenslander Pike, ranked world No.422, posted a final-round 69 to finish in a tie for third to book his maiden appearance at golf's oldest major.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the British Open, which was due to be played from July 16-19, was cancelled for 2020.

The Australian duo can breathe a sigh of relief with the US PGA Tour confirming to its members, including Jones, that all players who had secured a British Open berth as of April 6 would remain eligible for the tournament in 2021.

The field for the rescheduled Masters (November 12-15) has been set using those players already invited while qualifying for the US Open (September 18-21) is still being determined.

Qualifying for the PGA Championship (August 6-9) will be based on the PGA points list as of July 26.

The PGA Tour remains hopeful of resuming play, with or without fans, at the Charles Schwab Challenge on May 21 at the Colonial Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

But the memo to players said the Tour would be guided by advice from health and government officials.

Once a decision on a restart date is made, the Tour said it would give its players as much notice as possible.

"At a minimum, it is our hope to give the membership at least three to four weeks' notice before restarting the season," the memo said.

"We understand many of you may be impacted by travel restrictions and/or the inability to practise in your area, thus we want to be able to give you as much time as possible to allow you to come back fully prepared."


Golfer Leishman donating masks and meals

Golfer Marc Leishman's charity is helping the fight against coronavirus after his wife Audrey almost died from an acute respiratory illness five years ago.

By Melissa Woods, Australian Associated Press
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Australian golfer Marc Leishman is doing all he can to make a difference to the coronavirus battle in his adopted US home while the PGA tour is on shutdown.

The global pandemic hits a nerve with the world No.15 after his wife Audrey almost died from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis that put her in a coma five years ago while Leishman was preparing for the Masters at Augusta.

Patients with coronavirus can die from the same complications.

Leishman said it was important that Audrey, along with their three young children, were kept safe from the illness.

"She (Audrey) has to try not to get it," Leishman said.

"She's already had ARDS, which is what people are getting who get COVID-19 and that's what's killing them and putting people on the ventilators.

"So we know how bad that can be - she was lucky enough to survive it but we know that it's not just that bad stuff that happens in the hospital that affects you.

"It may be one or two or three years afterwards when you're trying to recover that's probably the hardest part about it.

"It's been tough for her but we're making the best of it and trying not to get it."

Leishman and Audrey set up the Begin Again Foundation after her illness and are using it to help hospitals and other groups in their local community in Virginia Beach.

He said they were providing meals for frontline workers at hospitals, including the one that saved Audrey's life, and also looking out for employees at supermarkets.

"There's about four or five big hospitals within a 30-minute drive and we're providing food for the ICU staff and also the emergency ward staff until the end of May," the Victorian said.

"We have also just ordered 1000 masks for check-out staff at supermarkets because we noticed how stressed they were looking.

"Just little things that can maybe help people's lives or reduce stress - we're doing what we can."

The PGA Tour is scheduled to resume with the Charles Schwab Challenge from May 21-24 at the Colonial Country Club in Texas.

Leishman thought whenever golf did return to tournament play it was likely to be played without galleries.

"The Tour hasn't said that but I think it would be a good first step," he said.

"But there's still issues with flights and airports and still a lot of people at a tournament without spectators like the cameramen, caddies, players and officials."


Virus won't stop Aust women golfers: Green

Major winner Hannah Green says the coronavirus outbreak won't stop the momentum of Australia's women golfers.

By Evin Priest, Australian Associated Press
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Young Australian golf star Hannah Green says uncertainty about the LPGA Tour resumption is proving harder to deal with than the break itself as she prepares for her major title defence.

Green's meteoric rise has been temporarily stalled by the coronavirus outbreak but she's backing Australia's contingent to come out firing when the tour does get under way again.

The 23-year-old West Australian spearheaded a whirlwind 2019 for that group with her maiden major win at the US Women's PGA Championship and another victory in Portland, Oregon.

She commenced the 2020 season with impressive performances at the Australian Open (tied 13th) and Victorian Open (tied 11th) before the LPGA Tour began suspending tournaments due to COVID-19.

That included the ANA Inspiration - the first women's major of the year - and the US Women's Open, which has been moved from June to December.

"It will be difficult to get back into playing mode but the hardest thing is not the break itself; it's not knowing how long the break is actually going to last," world No.21 Green told AAP from hometown Perth.

"Coming back into this new season, I had a lot of confidence I had built from a successful 2019.

"I felt I worked really hard on my game in the off-season because I now know what success tastes like.

"That's not to say I feel I need to win three times on the LPGA Tour this year but I do want to see some overall improvement in every part of my game."

The LPGA Tour is currently set to resume in the US in late June, although many believe that will not happen with the US struggling to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.

For now, at least, Green's defence of her US Women's PGA Championship remains on the schedule.

It is set to be the second LPGA Tour event on the circuit's return, held at the prestigious Aronimink course outside Philadelphia.

"I was especially looking forward to my first time defending a major championship title and for it to be at a course like Aronimink it will definitely disappointing (if it were to be postponed)," Green said.

"But there will be a chance for me to defend my title at some point and let's hope that is in 2020."

Green became the first Australian woman to win a major since Karrie Webb in 2006 and the third overall after Jan Stephenson.

Weeks later, teenager Gabi Ruffels became the first Australian to win the US Women's Amateur before Sydney's Stephanie Kyriacou won the Ladies European Tour's Australian Ladies Classic by eight shots.

In April, fellow Perth product Minjee Lee had claimed her fifth LPGA Tour title in Los Angeles.

The spate of success by youngsters prompted seven-time major winner Webb to predict a golden age for Australian women's golf.

"I'd say we'll be hungrier than ever and maybe we could see some of our best golf after Covid-19," said Green.

"There is no reason why we can't go to another level and we are pretty fortunate that the spread of the virus in Australia is not as bad as other parts of the world.

"Maybe that could give us an opportunity to get back to practising and playing before the women from Europe, Asia and the US."


'Choked up' Woods relives Masters win

Tiger Woods says he had a "blackout" moment after clinching his fifth Masters victory at Augusta National last year.

By Australian Associated Press
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The Masters over, Tiger Woods slipped on the green jacket again on the second Sunday in April.

He just wasn't at Augusta National this year.

Woods got emotional on Sunday after CBS re-aired his victory of last year.

In a video production from earlier in the week, Woods joined network host Jim Nantz to provide commentary during the final round, the first time in his 15 major victories that he came from behind to win.

CBS re-aired last year's final round Sunday because the Masters has been postponed until November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the 16th hole, Woods rejoined Nantz on the screen after his final putt, changing into his green jacket.

His best commentary was talking about the celebration with his two children, his mother, girlfriend and most loyal supporters.

Woods had a lump in his throat at one point said, "Now you're getting me choked up."

CBS last year quickly put together back-to-back images of Woods hugging his late father, Earl, after his record-setting victory in 1997 when he was 21, and then the embrace with his son, Charlie.

Woods said the embrace with his mother, Tida, was just as special.

"To have mum still there ... people remember the hug with my dad, but my mum is here 22 years later with the same hug," Woods said.

"Special for all of us."

Woods said he didn't remember some parts of the celebration, just as thrusting both arms in the air and constantly screaming as the gallery chanted his name.

That wouldn't be the first time.

When he won at Bay Hill in 2008, he slammed his cap to the ground and later said he didn't realise he had done that.

Watching the end of the Masters from his Florida home, Woods told Nantz, "I don't remember screaming. I don't remember putting my arms up.

"It was one of those blackout moments. ... I do remember my eyes coming back down and seeing people in front of me.

"As far as me celebrating? I don't remember that part."

He recalls thinking he needed to find Francesco Molinari and Tony Finau and their caddies, and then he was trying to find his own caddie, Joe LaCava.

"I finally found Joey and said, 'We did it!"' Woods said.


Tiger's last Masters triumph about family

Tiger Woods finally proved to his kids he wasn't just a "Youtube golfer" when he won his fifth Masters at Augusta last year.

By Doug Ferguson, Australian Associated Press
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Tiger Woods walked off the 18th green as a Masters champion for the fifth time, a major champion for the 15th time, and the sensation was unlike anything he had ever felt.

More memorable than any shot - the 8-iron that trickled by the hole at the 16th was the decisive blow - was the purposeful stride toward his son, grabbing Charlie with both arms, lifting the boy and turning from side to side.

His mother was next. His daughter. His loyal support staff. And then a lineup of players outside the clubhouse, some of them in green jackets. They had been upstairs in the locker room reserved for champions, yet they shared a feeling with the entire golf world.

Memories gave way to reality.

"That's going to be in people's minds forever," Rickie Fowler said last month, just two days before the Masters was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I had just an amazing amount of emails and texts that were flowing in," Woods said in a conference call leading up to the Masters.

"But I was more surprised by the amount of videos of people watching the Masters and seeing their reaction when I hit the shot on 16 or when I made the putt, whether it was on airplanes or in airports or restaurants.

"The amount of emotion that people were showing, that's what blew my mind."

That's what made this Masters different from his other four, this major different from the other 14.

Adam Scott doesn't usually stick around when he's finished with a major. One exception was in 2006 after the US Open at Winged Foot when he was headed for the airport and turned around when close friend and fellow Australian Geoff Ogilvy emerged the winner.

He finished Sunday at Augusta National about the time all hell broke loose at Amen Corner.

"You got a sense, as he was kind of taking the lead on the back nine, that something special could be happening," Scott said.

"There was a lot of guys watching in the champion's locker room and I stayed and watched. You don't often get that group of people together very often. You just had that sense it's a significant moment in the sport again."

The only mystery is where it leads.

In only two starts this year, in chilly California weather, he didn't look like the Masters champion. His back felt stiff and he skipped three tournaments he ordinarily plays. And now golf is shut down, which Woods said has given him time for his 44-year-old body to feel stronger.

Each time Woods won a major - even the first of his 15 - it was one major closer to the 18 won by Jack Nicklaus. But 2019 was different. This was more about satisfaction and redemption than a thirst for more.

Woods said his kids once looked at him as the "YouTube" golfer because they never saw him at his best.

They were at Carnoustie in the summer of 2018 when he had the lead briefly in the final round of the British Open. They were with him at Augusta National, and that meant as much as the green jacket he wore - the jacket, he said, they fought over who could wear it on the flight home.

"It's been incredible for myself and my family to be a part of this, and for me to be the current Masters champion, it's crazy that somehow it all came together for one week," he said.

"One magical week."


No Masters, so Woods battling son Charlie

Instead of flying to Augusta for the Masters this week Tiger Woods is at home in Florida holding a putting contest with his 11-year-old son, Charlie.

By Martyn Herman, Australian Associated Press
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Tiger Woods should have been trying to keep his Masters green jacket out of the clutches of the world's top golfers over the next four days, instead he will battle his 11-year-old son Charlie for it over putting competitions.

The Masters, which Woods won in magical fashion for a fifth time a year ago to claim his first major since 2008, has been postponed until November because of the coronavirus pandemic which has shut down world sport on an unprecedented scale.

Like his rivals, Woods, 44, has been kicking his heels at home, waiting for the day the PGA Tour can restart.

While he has enjoyed the family time, including 2,000-piece jigsaw puzzles and cup cakes, Woods admits being "wired" to play but not preparing for Augusta's first tee has been difficult.

His local course (Medallist) in Hobe Sound, Florida has remained open, however, and playing against Charlie has meant he can sharpen his competitive instincts.

"We've been able to go out there and compete," Woods said in an interview with Discovery-owned golf streaming service GOLFTV.

"He's got a lot better at throwing the needle at me now and he's accepting it faster and reversing it back. We have a deal, in the backyard generally every night we'll play putting matches and the winner gets to keep the green jacket in the closet.

"Occasionally it's gone into his closet. Primarily it's stayed in mine but the fact he's been able to earn it off me because there are no wins that are given in this family.

"It's been fun to see him tease me about beating me and being able to wear the jacket and have it in his closet where he says it belongs."

As a defending champion, the build-up to the Masters is unique. Not being able to host the Champions Dinner, or enjoy the par-three event held the day before, has left a void.

Woods held an improvised Champions Dinner at home with partner Erica Herman and children Charlie and Sam instead.

"We had exactly the same. We had steak and chicken pieces, sushi and sashimi," Woods, who battled back from knee and back injuries to claim his 15th major at Augusta last year, said.

"We had cupcakes and milkshakes for dessert. So it was exactly what I was going to serve. As I said, Masters Dinner quarantine style with my family.

"It got a little bit interesting at the end, a little ugly, where icing was flowing across people's hair and face! We had a little bit of fun at the end."

Joking aside, Woods says the Masters postponement is tough.

"This is not the way that I would've wanted to keep the jacket for a longer period of time," he said. "I wanted to get out there and compete for it and earn it again.

"I'm wired, I've been doing it for 25 years now and so it's hard to find the wire, those circuits now, I do feel a little edgy. I want to get there and play -- I want to compete.

"Fortunately, we potentially could have a Masters in November and play it then. I guess I'll be defending then and hopefully that all comes about."

Apart from playing golf with Charlie, Woods says cycling and watching his children on the tennis court in his garden have helped him stay relaxed during the lockdown.

The long injury lay-offs that have snagged his career have also helped him deal with the current situation he describes as "a war with an invisible enemy".

"I've been through episodes like this in my career with my back, where seconds seem like months, you have to slow things down and do things at a different pace," he said.

"I know it's frustrating, it's boring at times, but in the end we are trying to save lives, flatten the curve," he said. "It's not a normal world.

"My dad used to say, 'take it one meal to the next' -- so you go at it until the next meal."


Fan sues Woods, caddie for alleged shove

A Florida fan is suing Tiger Woods and his caddie for an alleged push at the Valspar Championship in 2018, which he says caused him injuries.

By Doug Ferguson, Australian Associated Press
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Tiger Woods and his caddie Joe LaCava are being sued by a fan for an alleged shove during the Valspar Championship in 2018 that caused him injuries.

Brian Borruso said in court papers on Tuesday he tried to take a selfie as Woods approached his tee shot left of the 13th green in the third round at Innisbrook.

But Joe LaCava "intentionally shoved" him, causing him to stumble and fall into the crowd.

Josh Drechsel, the lawyer representing Borruso, said the lawsuit was filed two years after the tournament to get a better understanding of the injuries, described in the lawsuit as "either permanent or continuing."

Mark Steinberg, the agent for Woods at Excel Sports Management, did not immediately reply to a text seeking comment. LaCava said he had no comment.

Drechsel, meanwhile, issued a public plea for evidence from fans who might have been at the 13th green that day and witnessed the incident.

One video Dreshsel has shows LaCava approaching the fans with his left arm extended saying: "You've got to back it up."

Drechsel says he wants to find the fans who could be heard on another video.

"One says, 'I love Tiger, but I don't like him' and another voice is heard saying, 'He just pushed him. He just shoved him right out of there.'"

The lawsuit says Borruso went to the hospital to be treated for his injuries.

Woods played the Valspar Championship for the first time in 2018, a key event in his return from back surgeries.

Before record crowds, at times standing a dozen rows deep around tee boxes, he came within one putt on the 18th hole of forcing a playoff and finished one shot behind Paul Casey.

Woods was named as a defendant because he employs LaCava, who previously was the longtime caddie for Fred Couples and began working for Woods in the autumn of 2011.

Drechsel said he asked the PGA Tour for video from the tournament but said the tour told him it was unable to provide any without a court order.


Leishman planning to play Aust Open

PGA Tour star Marc Leishman says he will do everything he can to play in this year's Australian Open, which will sit amongst a crowded calendar.

By Melissa Woods, Australian Associated Press
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Marc Leishman remains committed to playing in this year's Australian Open, which will sit amongst a crowded 2020 world golf calendar.

The world No.15 said the Open was a priority, particularly with it returning to Melbourne's sandbelt for the first time in 18 years, hosted by Kingston Heath Golf Club.

With the coronavirus pandemic halting tournaments around the world, the back-end of 2020 will be jam-packed with tournaments including three majors.

While the British Open has been cancelled, the PGA Championship has been slated for August 3-9, the US Open rescheduled for September 14-20 and the Masters for November 9-15.

The Australia Open's date is yet to be finalised but it's likely to be late November/early December and Leishman said it was one he didn't want to miss.

"It's going to be a tight schedule but I will do everything I can to get back, particularly with it being in Melbourne," Leishman said on Thursday.

"There's a lot of reasons I want to get back - my family are there, including my grandmother who's getting fairly old - and the Australian Open is certainly one of them.

"But it depends on how long the quarantining happens for and there's a lot of logistical issues but I will do everything I can to get back."

The news is a boon for Open organisers, who will also try to lure Australian No.1 Adam Scott, Cameron Smith and two-time winner Matt Jones to defend his title.

While this week he'd normally be stalking the fairways at Augusta in the US Masters, Leishman has been spending time at his US home with his wife Audrey and three kids, saying it's the longest "off-season" he's had in 12 years.

Despite the global impact of the pandemic, he's still able to play golf locally so is keeping his game in good shape but says the timing is disappointing after such a sparkling start to the year.

The USPGA cancelled the Players Championship after the opening round, with Leishman in the mix after carding a 67.

He also won a tournament in January and was runner-up at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.

The Tour is scheduled to resume with the Charles Schwab Challenge from May 21-24 at the Colonial Country Club in Texas.

"Hopefully that can happen - that seems fairly soon to me but who knows what can happen," he said.

"It's just a matter of being ready to go and I will be nice and fresh and hungry to finish off this season."