Tiger to defend Masters title behind closed doors: Ridley
WASHINGTON: Tiger Woods will have to defend his Masters title behind closed doors ater Augusta chiefs admited on Wednesday that the risks caused by the coronavirus “are simply too significant to overcome”.
The Masters had already been pushed back from its traditional April slot due to the pandemic and will now take place from Nov.12-15.
“As we have considered the issues facing us, the health and safety of everyone associated with the Masters always has been our first and most important priority,” said Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club.
“Ultimately, we determined that the potential risks of welcoming patrons and guests to our grounds in November are simply too significant to overcome.
“Even in the current circumstances, staging the Masters without patrons is deeply disappointing.”
Meanwhile, Zach Johnson had quick success ater a long road to the PGA Tour. He won as a rookie and reached the Tour Championship in Atlanta, where one of the perks was atending a ceremony to watch Jay Haas accept the Payne Stewart Award. He remembers it being powerful, inspiring, motivating.
It brought Johnson to tears 16 years later when he was selected Wednesday to receive the Payne Stewart Award.
“It makes everything I’ve done on and off the golf course worth it,” Johnson said. “It makes everything whole and complete.”
Few others got more out of their game than Johnson, who famously described himself as a “normal guy from Cedar Rapids, Iowa” when he won the Masters. His 12 victories on the PGA Tour include the 2015 British Open, making him one of only six players to win at Augusta National and St. Andrews.
The award began in 2000 ater Stewart, a three-time major champion, perished in a freak plane accident on the way to the Tour Championship. As it enters its second decade, the award now is regarded as the most prestigious on the PGA Tour.
Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus shared the award the first year. Since then, past winners include Haas and Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk and Ernie Els, Davis Love III and Nick Price. It goes to the player who best exemplifies Stewart’s value of character, charity and sportsmanship.