Waste Management Down To 5000 "Extremely Limited Number Of Socially Distanced Fans"
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Originally slated for 8000 and down to 5000 fans now, is anyone really going to feel comfortable given the Waste Management Open’s (A) method of counting attendance figures (B) inevitable desire to maintain the party atmosphere (C) potential to set a terrible example and set back efforts to welcome back fans safely.
Either way they march on eager to push the boundaries with apparent PGA Tour blessing and now, just 5000. Josh Frigerio reports.
"We remain hopeful we can host an extremely limited number of socially distanced fans at “The People’s Open”, and in light of the current COVID climate, we have decided to further reduce our attendance to fewer than 5,000 fans each day," Tournament Chairman Scott Jenkins said in a statement.
Another oddity?
The Tour stop in Arizona sits between four events in California. Which, as GolfChannel.com’s Rex Hoggard notes in this not particularly subtle questioning of the upcoming effort to play in California, is the state most facing incredible strain on medical resources.
This was once an issue for the PGA Tour in visiting a region as part of its restart, but so far has not led to pivot in scheduling in 2021.
Los Angeles Times, Jan. 11, 2021: “Darkest days for L.A. doctors, nurses, EMTs: ‘The way most people leave is by dying’”
Despite an ongoing stay-at-home order and aggressive lockdown rules, health officials in Los Angeles are bracing for what they believe will be a post-New Year’s transmission peak in “a few weeks.” The Genesis Invitational, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation and is seen as the anchor of the Tour’s West Coast swing, is scheduled for Feb. 18-21 at Riviera Country Club. How that timing fits in with the ongoing crisis and a potential peak in COVID-19 cases remains to be seen, but the Tour and Levinson remain resolute.
Following seven months of competition since last June’s restart across dozens of states and international boundaries, the Tour is confident with its plan and its place in every community where it plays.
“In every state where we go, we work very closely with the local authorities - whether that’s health officials, local leadership, governor’s offices - and make sure they understand what our program entails to the point that they are comfortable with us conducting our events,” Levinson said. “Our program is designed to take every step possible to mitigate risk, the environment in one state or another doesn’t change that.”
The Tour’s protocols, which have been widely applauded, won’t be changing but given the current crisis in California, the scrutiny on those protocols is sure to intensify.
The Genesis made official that no fans will be at Riviera this year.
