PGA Tour Adjusts Hopeful Start Date

pga tour sunrise
(Getty Images)

The US PGA Tour has adjusted their return to play date, in the hope of getting golf underway by early June.

The Charles Schwab Challenge was to be the first tour event to begin on May 18 but due to the extend of the coronavirus challenge in the United States that date has now been put back three weeks and the start of the 2020/21 season will also be affected.

Speaking at the announcement, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said the health and safety of all associated with the PGA Tour and the global community continues to be their No. 1 priority.

“Our hope is to play a role, responsibly, in the world’s return to enjoying the things we love,” Monahan said.

“Today’s announcement is another positive step for our fans and players as we look toward the future, but as we’ve stressed on several occasions, we will resume competition only when, working closely with our tournaments, partners and communities, it is considered safe to do so under the guidance of the leading public health authorities.”

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan

At this time, the PGA Tour plans to resume play with the first four events closed to the general public but will continue to monitor the situation and follow the recommendations of local and state authorities in order to determine the most appropriate on-site access in each market.

The tour has said it will continually review available COVID-19-related protocols that could be implemented at PGA Tour events to ensure the health and well-being for all involved.

All three events that were previously scheduled between May 18 and June 8 – the Charles Schwab Challenge, Rocket Mortgage Classic and the Memorial Tournament have been moved to later dates in the calendar.

The RBC Heritage, originally slated for this week (April 13-19) but cancelled on March 17, has been added back to the PGA Tour schedule in the week formerly occupied by the U.S. Open, which, as previously announced, has been postponed to September.

The RBC Canadian Open, originally scheduled for the week of June 8, has been cancelled. The Barbasol Championship, originally scheduled for July 13-19 opposite The Open Championship, has been cancelled. The Open Championship was cancelled on April 6.

Revised 2019-20 PGA TOUR Season schedule

• June 8-14: Charles Schwab Challenge, Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas
• June 15-21: RBC Heritage, Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, South Carolina
• June 22-28: Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut
• July 2-5: Rocket Mortgage Classic, Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, Michigan
• July 6-12: John Deere Classic, TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois
• July 13-19: the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio
• July 20-26: 3M Open, TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minnesota
• July 27-August 2: World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee
• July 27-August 2: Barracuda Championship, Tahoe Mountain Club (Old Greenwood), Truckee, California
• August 3-9: PGA Championship, TPC Harding Park, San Francisco, California
• August 10-16: Wyndham Championship, Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, North Carolina
• August 17-23: THE NORTHERN TRUST, TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts
• August 24-30: BMW Championship, Olympia Fields Country Club (North), Olympia Fields, Illinois
• August 31-September 7: TOUR Championship, East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia

NZGM Masters 2019
Tiger Woods of the United States celebrates after sinking his putt on the 18th green to win during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

2020-21 PGA TOUR Season

Additionally, the PGA Tour has introduced the season-opening weeks of the 2020-21 PGA Tour Season, including – as announced on April 6 by the USGA and Augusta National Golf Club, respectively – the U.S. Open and Masters Tournament.

PGA Tour Chief Tournaments and Competitions Officer Andy Pazder said this portion of our 2020-21 schedule is possible only because of the many partners who have worked tirelessly to grow their events and impact the lives of those in need in their respective communities, and the players, who have embraced the expanded late year schedule in recent years.

“We’d like to express our appreciation to the leadership of the Safeway Open, Houston Open and Mayakoba Golf Classic – which will conclude our calendar year schedule in Riviera Maya, Mexico – for their flexibility, which allowed for the U.S. Open and Masters Tournament to be played in the fall,” said Pazder.

“The accommodations will help the global golf community maximize the 2020 calendar, which will be incredibly impactful for our fans and put us in a strong position heading into 2021.”

2020-21 PGA Tour Season Schedule (US Autumn portion):

• September 7-13: Safeway Open, Silverado Resort and Spa North, Napa, California
• September 14-20: U.S. Open, Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, New York
• # September 21-27: Ryder Cup, Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin
• September 21-27: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, Corales Golf Club, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
• September 28-October 4: Sanderson Farms Championship, Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Mississippi
• October 5-11: Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada
• October 12-18: THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, Nine Bridges, Jeju Island, Korea
• October 19-25: ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
• October 26-November 1: World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, China
• October 26-November 1: Bermuda Championship, Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton, Bermuda
• November 2-8: Houston Open, Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston, Texas
• November 9-15: Masters Tournament, Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
• November 16-22: The RSM Classic, Sea Island Resort (Seaside and Plantation), Sea Island, Georgia
• November 23-29: Open week (Thanksgiving)
• November 30-December 6: Mayakoba Golf Classic, El Camaleón Golf Club, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
• # November 30-December 6: Hero World Challenge, Albany, New Providence, Bahamas
• # December 7-13: QBE Shootout, Tiburón GC, Naples, Florida
• # December 14-20: PNC Father-Son Challenge, The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Orlando, Florida

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