Golf fans around the world are getting used to watching professional tournaments played on empty courses and it looks like the Masters will soon confirm that there won’t be any patrons allowed on site.
According to the Augusta Chronicle, the city of Augusta has recorded 1,460 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the last two weeks.
With that, the mayor of the city has predicted that relative silence will greet the opening tee shots at the Masters in November.
“The PGA Championship begins this week without fans, and that’s likely what will probably happen in Augusta,” mayor Hardie Davis said in a news conference.
The PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park is being held with no galleries, following the model of the first few events on the PGA and European Tour after restart.
The USGA has previously announced the US Open at Winged Foot in New York won’t have any fans attending.
Officials at Augusta National have not provided any recent update, other than to confirm that it will follow the advice of local and state health officials.
“Augusta National can do it better than anybody, and they have the wherewithal to test all patrons who show up at the course and if you have a fever, they can tell you to go get in the car,” Davis said, before adding: “My preference is to see some golf.”
The Masters is scheduled for Nov. 12-15.
