The PGA Tour in the COVID-19 era is set to begin a month from Thursday, with the Charles Schwab Challenge scheduled for June 11-14 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Schwab event is the first of four PGA Tour events that are to be played without spectators. Colonial is followed by the RBC Heritage, the Travelers Championship in Connecticut and the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The John Deere Classic, in early July, is scheduled to be the first event with spectators, though PGA Tour officials said that could change.
It’s been nine weeks since the PGA Tour — along with all professional sports — shut operations down as the coronavirus pandemic grew dangerous when The Players Championship was canceled following its opening round on March 12.
A comprehensive 37-page document, which outlines strict health and safety regulations for the upcoming tournaments, was sent to players and other officials on Tuesday. And on Wednesday, tour executives Andy Pazder, Tyler Dennis and Andy Levinson explained them on a conference call.
Here are the key components to the new regulations:
- COVID-19 testing will be required of players and caddies as a condition of competition. The testing protocols will include three methods — a questionnaire, thermal reading and nasal swab test. Players and caddies also will be required to be screened pre-travel and upon arrival with all three methods and daily with a questionnaire and thermal reading.
With the results from testing expected to take 24-48 hours, players who are waiting for results may practice or play on-site but will have no access to course facilities such as the clubhouse or locker room.
The testing likely will take place in a designated hotel where players, caddies and other officials will be staying. The plan is for one test of players per week. Upon arrival to the course each day, everyone will get thermal temperature readings along with a daily medical questionnaire.
- Any player who tests positive will be required to self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days. The Tour said it will provide “support’’ throughout the isolation period and travel home by car would be permitted, if approved to be safe. Any player who competes in a tournament, makes the cut but is then unable to finish due to a COVID-19 positive test will receive last-place unofficial money.
- Caddies will be expected to maintain 6 feet of distance between themselves and the players. There will be sanitation stations at each hole to wipe down clubs, flagsticks and rakes.
- Other than the players and caddies, the only other people permitted at the tournaments will be PGA Tour staff, including scoring and rules officials, security, player relations, media officials, select ShotLink staff, select tournament staff, clubhouse staff, volunteers, trainers, instructors and a limited number of media. Player families, as well as managers and agents, will not be allowed at the tournament venue.
- The PGA Tour is offering a charter between events, with players and caddies getting first priority. It is charging players $600 per seat. All will have to get a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of departure.
- There are about 25 international players who are regular members of the PGA Tour and live abroad — Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood among them. With international travel bans in place, Levinson said the tour is “working with the federal government to facilitate the return of players and caddies who are currently residing outside of the United States, and we’re optimistic that that’s going to occur.’’ The players who do travel to the U.S., however, will be required to quarantine for 14 days after arriving.
- Among the services normally available to players during tournament weeks that won’t be available now include, daycare, clubhouse gyms, concierge services, laundry services and valet parking.