While it often seems the Masters Tournament operates in a green bubble of its own making, there came the reminder Wednesday that it shares the same worried planet as everyone else.
In light of the Novel coronavirus/COVID 19 outbreak, Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Fred Ridley felt compelled to release a memo on the status of next month’s Masters. That status remains unchanged, the chairman said. For now, the tournament and the ancillary events leading to it will go on as scheduled.
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Ridley wrote that Augusta National has been in touch with a wide range of authorities from the World Health Organization to Atlanta’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to local officials.
“As a result of this collaboration,” he wrote, “and based upon our knowledge of the situation at this time, we are proceeding as scheduled for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (April 4), the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals (April 5) and the Masters Tournament (April 9-12). We will continue to review the available facts and information with the experts and authorities, establish precautions and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of all involved.”
In closing, Ridley, though, did serve a reminder as to the ever-changing nature of the viral outbreak, stating, “We appreciate your understanding as this matter continues to develop.”
That announcement came on the heels of a similar one from the PGA Tour stating that it currently was considering no changes to its U.S. schedule.
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