For golf, good news came with the bad yesterday. The Memorial Tournament will push through this weekend with a veritable Who’s Who of stars on tap. The Muirfield Village Golf Club has always been a popular destination for members of the United States Professional Golfers Association Tour, and not simply because it also happens to be the venue of living legend Jack Nicklaus’ event; it’s a challenging layout designed by the host himself. And, evidently, the intrinsic pull of the stop overrode and fears fueled by the dramatic spike in novel coronavirus infections.
If there is one “negative,” it’s that spectators will not be allowed. Initially, the Memorial had been preparing for the influx of crowds, albeit under physical distancing protocols, through all four rounds of play. Given the all-too-real dangers of community transmission despite the mitigating measures in place, however, tour officials thought best to restrict attendance to those directly involved in the competition. And it’s telling that they’ve seen fit to extend the decision to the remainder of the tour’s 2019-20 schedule. The PGA Championship, the Wyndham Championship, the Northern Trust, the BMW Championship, and the Tour Championship, will all be absent live fans.
At a time when uncertainty rules, though, the sight of the best of the best plying their trade is one for sore eyes, even from the comfort of homes. Of particular focus will be Tiger Woods, still the sport’s biggest draw despite his advancing age and inconsistent showing; he’ll be teeing off for the first time since finishing 68th — and dead last among those who survived the cut — at the Genesis Invitational in February. Considering his frequent bouts with injury, that he’ll be wielding a club this week is a plus in and of itself. That he has been grouped with stalwarts Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka for the first two rounds is decidedly a bonus.
If recent events are an indication, the Memorial figures to do just fine. And so will Woods, who acquitted himself well at The Match: Champions for Charity last May. True, going low in an exhibition featuring an over-the hill opponent and two middling amateurs who carved successful paths in another sport is nothing to crow about. Then again, it’s also nothing to belittle, especially in light of the lengthy break the 15-time major titleholder hitherto took. All told, he’s a must watch in a can’t-miss affair, a conclusion etched in stone.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
