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Golf fans around the world are scrambling to find things to do this April as the annual Masters Tournament, which is normally hosted this month, has been postponed due to the ongoing pandemic. What would have been the first major of 2020 has now been overshadowed by the unprecedented time we live in, but fans can still find solace in the tournament’s host providing tangible dates for the renowned tournament.
The administration of the beautiful Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia had to make the historically difficult decision to move back the dates of the tournament to Nov. 9 through Nov. 15. In a statement from chairman Fred Ridley, the club emphasized the importance of following the advice of health officials while also trying to make light of the situation as best as possible. “While more details will be shared in the weeks and months to come, we, like all of you, will continue to focus on all mandated precautions and guidelines to fight against the Coronavirus,” he said. “Along the way, we hope the anticipation of staging the Masters Tournament in the fall brings a moment of joy to the Augusta community and all those who love the sport.”
This change in date will undoubtedly change the way the course will play for the invitees. Golf is different from many other sports because the players’ performances are seriously impacted by the condition of the fairways, greens and rough areas. With a change in season, the climate of Augusta, G.A. will be slightly colder and with higher levels of rainfall, according to information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. With more rain and lower temperatures, the course has the potential to play a little slower than usual—meaning balls won’t roll as far and arcing shots may bounce less.
As the first major of the year, the Masters gives us the first look at the crop of serious golfers for the year, as well as the titans of the game. Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson are all names that would have been teeing off this weekend for their first major of 2020.
Naturally, this Masters will be following the epic outcome of 2019’s tournament when the legendary Tiger Woods shot 13 under par over the weekend to secure his fifth green jacket and first major championship since 2008. Woods was and still is a household name after busting onto the scene in 1996, earning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors and winning his first Masters a year later in 1997 at the age of 21.
In last year’s tournament, Woods overcame numerous back injuries that have plagued him in recent years to come from behind in the final round. After winning his first Masters in 1997, Woods immediately went and embraced his father who was cheering him on from just beyond the rope. In 2019, a 43-year-old Woods came full circle and embraced his own son who, just like his grandfather, had been watching from just past the divider.
The other four majors have been impacted by COVID-19 as well. The Open Championship has been canceled completely, while the U.S. Open and PGA Championship have been postponed to the late summer. It’s disheartening for fans as they have to wait for these three other majors, but the absence of the Masters is felt especially hard. The competition’s nature as the “opening ceremony” for the season’s tour gives it much more anticipation than the other majors. Without it, golf fans are left with rebroadcasts of past tournaments and predictions.
Nothing is safe from this pandemic, but patience will, in the end, beat it. The upside is that golfers and golf fans are very accustomed to waiting, so there is hope after all.