The 2020 Masters Has Been Postponed

Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, has announced that The Masters, along with the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, and the Drive, Chip, and Putt National Finals have been postponed.

“Ultimately, the health and well-being of everyone associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community led us to this decision,” Ridley wrote in a statement released this morning. “We hope this postponement puts us in the best position to safely host the Masters Tournament and our amateur events at some later date.”

“As COVID-19 continues to impact the lives of people everywhere, we seek your understanding of this decision and know you share our concern given these trying times. Thank you for your faithful support.”

On the heels of a flurry of cancellations and suspended play across the sports spectrum, the decision to postpone golf’s first major while still jarring to fans, did not come as a surprise. The prelude came yesterday when The Players Championship was halted after the first round. At least Hideki Matsuyama was able to give the gallery a thrill tying the course record in spectacular fashion, holing a 25-foot eagle putt to seal the deal on a 9-under 63. With no actual winner of the tournament, half of the $15 million prize purse was divvied out evenly to all competitors.

C.T. Pan, who earned his first PGA Tour win last year at the RBC Heritage, chose to withdraw from the Players Championship on Thursday citing coronavirus concerns.  “My wife and I want to protect ourselves from the risk of exposure to the coronavirus. We are fine and our families are fine,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Our lifestyle is like a circus, traveling from one place to another. We believe this is a time to exercise caution by not playing this week.”

The PGA Tour has cancelled all the events leading up to the Masters including the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, the WGC-Dell Technologies Championship in Austin, and the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.

These cancellations are another reminder of the seriousness of the deepening coronavirus crisis. The continuing cancellations and suspensions of major league sports seasons and marquee tournaments may feel disconcerting to fans and even a bit eerie, but the intent is not meant to spark fear.  The idea is to curtail the pandemic and to protect communities.   Sure, the show must go on but when the well-being of players and fans are at stake erring on the side of caution is prudent and commendable.