Los Angeles—PGA of America chief executive Seth Waugh said Tuesday that organizers are considering multiple scenarios for the US PGA Championship now scheduled for August 6-9 in San Francisco.
Waugh, in an interview on SiriusXM radio, said the first option would be to play the tournament as currently scheduled at Harding Park.
A second option would be to hold the first major championship of the year there but without spectators and a potential third option would be to move it to another location should play in California prove impossible.
The tournament has already been postponed from May as the coronavirus pandemic up-ended the golfing calendar along with the rest of the sports world.
Under the revamped plans agreed by golf’s governing bodies, the US PGA Championship in August would be followed by the US Open in September and the Masters at Augusta National in November. The British Open has been cancelled.
“The plan is to do it as normally as possible, with fans, obviously, and have a fairly normal PGA Championship at Harding Park,” Waugh said.
“If the safest way, and/or the only way to do it is without fans, we’re fully prepared to do that. We believe that having it as a television event is worth doing regardless of whether there’s fans there or not.
“Obviously, that’ll change the experience, but we think the world is starved for some entertainment, and particularly in sports.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom said this month that he does not anticipate having crowds at sporting events in the state this year.
Waugh said that if California or San Francisco City authorities decide the tournament can’t be held at Harding Park, the PGA could try to find an alternate venue.
“It makes it simpler if there aren’t any fans to think about things like that,” he said. “We don’t certainly have a plan C right now, but we’d be prepared to think about that if that became a possibility.
“We’re going to do everything we can to play the PGA Championship this year.”
Meanwhile, the PGA of America donated $5 million to launch the Golf Emergency Relief fund on Monday, aiming to provide support for the golf industry during the coronavirus pandemic.
The body, whose flagship event the US PGA Championship has been postponed from May amid the shelter-in-place policies designed to slow spread of the virus, pledged to match up to an additional $2.5 million given by other groups.
A statement said the PGA of America contribution included all members of its executive team voluntarily reducing their compensation. The board of directors pledged personal donations.
“There’s pain everywhere,” PGA chief executive Seth Waugh said. “It’s how to get to the other side. The government is doing extraordinary things. The Fed actions last week were stunning. The loan programs are very clever to keep people employed. The bad news is it may not be enough depending on how long this lasts.
“What we’re saying is, ‘How can we create an additional safety net?’”
The fund will be administered by E4E Relief, an independent public charity.
The PGA, which represents club professionals, has nearly 29,000 members. But PGA president Suzy Whaley said it’s hoped the fund will help members of other golf organizations, club caddies and players on developmental tours.
“We have to ensure that the heart and soul of our game—our people—are able to get back on their feet and continue to serve others down the road,” Whaley said. “Eventually, golf will return, but we first need to reach out and help people in our industry during this national emergency.”
The PGA said other organizations, including the US PGA Tour and the LPGA, the US Golf Association are supporting the fund, as are groups representing course superintendents, course owners and merchandisers.
“Our hope is the industry gets behind it,” Whaley said.
Applications are to be accepted starting from Thursday.
The first phase will distribute $500 grants for basic needs and $1,500 grants for critical needs.
A second phase will make funds available up to $3,500 depending on need.