Golf - PGA, European Tours Return: Full Schedule 2020

• After a break of nearly three months, many gold leagues are now announcing return dates
• The tours are not completely corona-free, extensive measures will be in place to protect athletes and fans

Golf is back and whilst the 2020-21 PGA Tour schedule has not been the one anyone expected in January, never mind when the season started back in mid-September, the rearranged plans offer genuine hope of a solid summer of competitive action.

After a break of almost three months, an exceptionally strong field which includes the world’s top five players will tee it up in the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas on June 11-14.

In many ways, the scene of the return is apt because the course is widely known as Hogan’s Alley, in honour of one of the sport’s enduring greats, and the tradition will act as a spur amid the unusual backdrop of fairways and greens absent of galleries.

The Texas date is followed by the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town, which like the Colonial date is another the PGA Tour has deemed worthy of being maintained on the schedule following delays.

A month later there will be no trans-Atlantic journey to the British Open. Instead, it is replaced by the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village and it has emerged that it will also be the second of back-to-back events the course hosts after it stepped in following the cancellation of the John Deere Classic.

The final days of July will witness the start of the World Golf Championship FedEx St Jude Invitational and the strong field assembled there will a week later play the first major of 2020, the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park.

Other Tournaments With Set Return Dates

August is set to witness the conclusion of the season, with THE NORTHERN TRUST and BMW Championship kicking off the FedEx Cup Play-Offs and the TOUR Championship at East Lake providing the finale.

The 2020-21 season will begin a week later and it will feature 2020’s final two major championships – the U.S. Open at Winged Foot (September 17-20) and the Masters (November 12-15).

In theory, the Ryder Cup remains on target for its late September date, but it is widely believed that it will be delayed by 12 months.

“We’re excited about how the PGA Tour can play a role in the world’s return to enjoying things we love and doing so in a responsible manner,” said Tyler Dennis, the PGA Tour’s Senior Vice President and Chief of Operations.

A package of measures will include multiple testing, social distancing, medical questionnaires, temperature readings and nasal swabs in addition to playing the first four tournaments in front of no spectators, chartering aircraft for transport between sites and the quarantining of non-American-based players.

When World No. 1 Rory McIlroy was asked if he had reservations he said: “I don’t think so. If you take necessary precautions, face cover, washing hands, practising social distancing, I really do think it is possible. If everyone follows guidelines, I don’t see why it’s not possible. I feel comfortable getting back out there.”

He later added: “I can’t speak for everyone, but for me personally, I just want to get back out and play. I miss the competition. I miss the buzz of getting into contention and playing in those last few groups on a Sunday and really feeling that. I also miss the locker room. I miss being around people.”

Other European Tour News

The European Tour has been somewhat slower in releasing a new schedule, a natural consequence of its plans crossing many borders as it travels around not only Europe, but also Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

That explains why it will return with a six-week swing of events in the United Kingdom, of which chief executive Keith Pelley said: ‘We have taken a measured approach, informed every step of the way by our medical advisers and government guidance.

“As golf’s global Tour, diversity is ordinarily one of our biggest strengths, but in this instance, it has become one of our biggest challenges. Initially, therefore, playing in clusters, in one territory, is the best option in terms of testing, travel and accommodation.”

Further events may be added, but the concluding two tournaments on the schedule, originally slated for November have been moved back a month.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge will take place December 3-6 and the seasonal finale, the DP World Tour Championship, a week later (December 10-13).

Upcoming Tour Schedules