Participation: U.S. Sees Beginner Boom, UK And Ireland Still See Strong Numbers

The National Golf Foundation’s Joe Beditz reports the biggest beginner boom since the start of the century in his latest report.

Over the past two years, the number of beginning golfers in the U.S. is higher than it was back when Woods was at his most dominant. Almost 30% higher. In 2021, a record 3.2 million Americans played golf on a course for the first time. This after 3 million newcomers picked up golf in 2020 as the pandemic unfolded and people sought out safe, outdoor activities that could provide a sense of normalcy with friends and family.

Like the “Tiger Effect,” there’s no question the “Covid Effect” has been a force in its own right in terms of fostering golf engagement. But other factors have helped boost golf trials, too, among them the increased interest created by golf entertainment venues and other off-course forms of the game, and a more favorable public outlook on golf in general. It’s now been six straight years that the number of on-course beginners has exceeded the 2.4 million newcomers Tiger helped introduce to the game in both 1999 and 2000.

Meanwhile in the UK the R&A released these numbers:

Two new participation reports show that 5.3 million on-course adult golfers – the second-highest number since monitoring began over 30 years ago – enjoyed playing on full length courses (9 or 18 holes) in Great Britain and Ireland in 2021. This includes a marginal increase in Ireland and a slight reduction in Great Britain.

Golf enjoyed a significant boom during the pandemic due to its ability to be played safely and proven benefits in boosting mental and physical health. The latest data shows that participation in golf is still well above the rates in the years prior to Covid-19.

In Great Britain, the number of on-course adults began to gradually increase before Covid-19, rising from 2.5 million in 2017 to 3 million in 2019, before surging to a peak of 5.2 million in 2020. The latest figures show that 4.8 million golfers played in 2021.

With less restrictions on play in 2021, the new figures also reveal that avid golfers more than doubled, there was an increase in female golfers and the use of driving ranges and Par-3 courses remained high.

And the key highlights from the 2021 Great Britain Golf Participation Report:

• At 4.8 million, total adult golfers on a full-length course (9 or 18 hole) remains considerably above the 3 million in 2019 pre-pandemic level, albeit down from 5.2 million in 2020

• Female golfer full course users increased to 34% of golfers (1.4 million to 1.6 million)

• Avid golfers (who played more than 52 times) more than doubled from 149,000 to 339,000

• Over 3.5 million people used a driving range – the second highest figure of the last 20 years

• Par-3 course users rose from 27,000 to 41,000, similar to the figures between 2012-2016

• The average age of golfers was 41, the same as in 2020

• 15% of the population tried or started golf again in any on or off-course format because of the pandemic (in 2020 or 202

And the Ireland Golf Participation Report:

• Total adult golfers on a full-length course (9 or 18 hole) marginally increased from 540,000 to 543,000

• Female golfer full course users increased to 21% of golfers (70,000 to 111,000)

• Core golfers (regular golfers who played 12-51 times and avid golfers who played more than 52 times) rose from 161,000 to 201,000

• 18% of the population tried or started golf again in any on or off-course format because of the pandemic (in 2020 or 2021), rising to 29% of those aged 15-24

LA Hosting Back To Back LPGA Stops With Dual Ticket, Free Admission For Healthcare And Service Heros

It’s rare for a reason to avoid having back-to-back tournaments in a city, but the LPGA will be doing so this April when they return to Wilshire and debut an event at Palos Verdes CC. While those are two very different markets given the size of the city, it’s still fantastic to see a dual ticket offered as well as free admission for all service personnel and frontline workers. Why this hasn’t been done more at tournaments this year is beyond me, but credit Outlyr and the LPGA for doing so.

All the details…

Los Angeles Set to Host Consecutive LPGA Tour Events forFirst Time in April

with JTBC LA Open and JTBC Championship at Palos Verdes

Tickets on Sale Now for Both the JTBC LA Open on April 18-24

and the Newly Minted JTBC Championship at Palos Verdes on April 25-May 1

All Service Personnel – Military, Fire, Police, EMS and Front-Line Healthcare Workers –

to Receive Complimentary Admission to Both Tournaments

 LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24, 2022 – The LPGA Tour and Outlyr jointly announced today that Los Angeles will host back-to-back LPGA Tour events for the first time, taking place in April 2022. The JTBC LA Open returns for a fourth year at Wilshire Country Club on April 18-24, followed by the inaugural JTBC Championship at Palos Verdes, taking place as Palos Verdes Golf Club, April 25-May 1. Both events will feature fields of 144 of the world’s best female golfers competing over 72-holes for overall purses of $1.5 million each.

Tickets are on sale now for both the JTBC LA Open and the JTBC Championship at Palos Verdes. Tournament Officials also announced the “LA LPGA Dual Ticket” – a weekly grounds pass that provides access to both tournaments, marking the first time that spectators will have the opportunity to purchase one pass for back-to-back LPGA events. Tickets will be sold exclusively via the tournament’s official websites; the JTBC LA Open at www.la-open.com and the JTBC Championship at Palos Verdes atwww.jtbcchamp.com.

In addition, all service personnel, including military (active, retired, reserve and veteran), fire, police, and EMS and their immediate family (up to four tickets) will receive complimentary admission to both tournaments. The JTBC LA Open will once again include the Hero Outpost on the 18th green, compliments of SERVPRO. The complimentary SERVPRO Hero Outpost tickets must be downloaded in advance from www.la-open.com and proper ID is required at the main entrance. Children under 17 also will be admitted free into the tournament with a paid adult.

“We are very excited to expand our footprint in Los Angeles with back-to-back events in the area for the first time, adding to the Tour’s already prominent presence in Southern California,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “We want to thank our friends and longtime partners at JTBC for providing us the opportunity to bring the stars of the women’s game to the heart of Los Angeles, one of the largest broadcast markets in the world.”

“Los Angeles has a rich history in professional golf, and we look forward to strengthening the LPGA Tour’s presence in embarking on a new spring tradition in women’s golf with these consecutive events in Los Angeles,” said Patrick Healy, executive director for the JTBC LA Open and JTBC Championship at Palos Verdes. “We look forward to working with JTBC in showcasing Wilshire Country Club and Palos Verdes Golf Club to the LPGA Tour’s global audience.” 

Historic Wilshire Country Club returns as the host venue for the JTBC LAOpen for a fourth  year and will welcome fans back to the championship forthe first time since 2019. The tournament made its debut in 2018, marking the LPGA Tour’s return to Los Angeles in more than a decade. Brooke Henderson captured her 10th LPGA Tour win at 16-under par at the 2021edition of the championship, contested without fans in attendance. The 2020 edition was canceled due to the pandemic. Wilshire Country Club, which opened in 1919, is one of a select few venues to host events on the LPGA,PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, as well as the PGA Championship.

“Wilshire Country Club has been a strong proponent of women’s golf and our members are excited about the return of the game’s best players – and the return of fans – to the JTBC LA Open,” said Mark Beccaria, President of Wilshire Country Club.

Palos Verdes Golf Club, often referred to as a “hidden gem” in Southern California, has a rich history hosting women’s golf events. Palos Verdes has hosted the Northrup Grumman Regional Challenge women’s collegiate championship for the past 25 years. Past individual winners include Carlota Ciganda, Natalie Gulbis, Brittany Lang, Bronte Law, Andrea Lee, Leona Maguire, Lorena Ochoa and Annie Park. The JTBC Championship at PalosVerdes will mark the first professional tournament taking place at Palos Verdes Golf Club.

“We are privileged to welcome the LPGA Tour for this year’s JTBC Championship at Palos Verdes,” said David Klein, President of Palos Verdes Golf Club.  “Our membership is excited to welcome back many familiar faces who competed at Palos Verdes during their collegiate careers, and we look forward to working with the LPGA Tour, JTBC and Outlyr in conducting a first-class event.”

Volunteer registration for both the JTBC LA Open and JTBC Championship at Palos Verdes is now open. Registration for both tournaments is $55, which includes a polo, hat or visor, food, and beverage, and two daily tickets. Forthose who register to volunteer at the JTBC Championship at Palos Verdes, $5 will be donated to the Race to End Alzheimer’s Association. For moreinformation on how to volunteer, visit JTBC LA Open at www.la-open.com; and the JTBC Championship at Palos Verdes at www.jtbcchamp.com.

The JTBC LA Open and the JTBC Championship at Palos Verdes are ownedand operated by Outlyr, a global event management, sponsorship consulting and activation agency.

"$64K question: Did exclusive Charlotte golf club dupe pro baseball player into joining?"

The Charlotte Observers Michael Gordon with the bizarre story of San Diego Padre Wil Myers getting sued by Charlotte’s Carmel Country Club and then countersuing in what can only be called the First World at its Finest.

The short version: Myers joined the club, the pandemic hit and tee times became tough to get. Hardly a news story to any golfer. But the story gets strange given that Myers will make $22.5 million next year and is being sued for non-payment after resigning due to the lack of availability.

According to Myers’ counter-claim, all of this came as an unpleasant surprise. He said he joined the club after being assured that there were ample tee times available on both of Carmel’s courses. Instead, according to his court filing, Myers “found it almost impossible to find a tee time and frequently could not even use the driving range.” He and Margaret resigned their membership in December, telling the club that they had been duped into paying for golf privileges that they couldn’t enjoy. The club responded by citing the provisions of the Myerses’ membership contract and billing them for the $64,000 initiation balance, with a due date of Dec. 31, 2020, and some $785 in outstanding golf shop purchases and overdue charges. Carmel sued last March.

Myers fired back in June, claiming in his countersuit that he and his wife had been victimized by Carmel’s “knowing misrepresentations and omissions” which his complaint described as “immoral, unethical and unscrupulous.”

That seems a tad excessive.

PGA Tour Fires Studio Host Who Wanted Religion Exemption From Mask Wearing

Steve DiMeglio reports that the PGA Tour has fired social media host Teryn Gregson after the 32-year-old pregnant mother sought a religious exemption from COVID protocols, including mask wearing in the office for those who are unvaccinated.

Gregson took to Instagram to share her saga and has been retweeting the usual fringe news outlets like BlazeTV and Outkick The Coverage taking up her cause while seeking donations.

“I was in need of religious exemptions from their vaccine protocols of masking and testing,” Gregson said in her post. “They would not accommodate me in such a way that I did not have to violate my religious beliefs.

The story features an extensive rebuttal from the Tour where 94% of employees have been vaccinated and they have greater existential threats to deal with right now than social hosts who feel violated by masking and testing.

“When mandatory in-office work for Northeast Florida employees at our new Global Headquarters and PGA Tour Entertainment building commenced on November 1, the vaccination rate of employees was at 90 percent. Presently, all Tour employees based in Northeast Florida are required to return to the office and follow health and safety protocols.”

In a phone call, Gregson said she is contemplating pursuing legal action against the PGA Tour. She said she has not given much thought about seeking other employment. She added that she has been overwhelmed by an outpouring of messages from people across the U.S., many who said they are dealing with this same issue.

“I don’t know what’s next,” she said. “But I have to figure some stuff out.”

Start by looking for a job where you can go without a mask? Don’t bother with Fox or Newsmax. Good luck!

Foreign Players Entering U.S. For PGA Tour Events Must Be Vaxxed, Tour Has 83% Compliance

Nice scoops by Rex Hoggard to report on the updated CDC policy for players entering the U.S. in the coming months and hoping to play—vaccination and a negative test will be needed.

Plus, he reports the PGA Tour spokesperson said they are up to 83% vaccination for the combo of players, caddies and essential staff.

Royal Melbourne To Institute "No Jab, No Play" Policy

The Age’s Noel Towell and Samantha Hutchinson report on Royal Melbourne’s first-in-Australia (and anywhere I know of) with a “no jab, no play” policy.

Club captain Andrew Kirby alerted the membership in an email obtained by The Age and he did not soft-pedal the renowned club’s stance on receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.

“We got incredibly strong support from the members, an amazing number of notes and passionate support from staff and from other clubs,” Mr Kirby said.

“We’ve got lots of rules in golf and here’s another one. If you want to play, you’ll have to be vaccinated. At least one jab, then two and of course there’ll be a system of registration.”

Kirby, whose day job is commercial litigation barrister, says Royal Melbourne expects most if not all clubs in the state to introduce no-jab no play mandates as the sport continues its efforts to convince Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton and Premier Daniel Andrews that courses can re-open safely.

Patrick Reed Reinforces The Ryder Cup Case Against Picking Patrick Reed

Patrick Reed’s absurd assertions about his illness and the odd his admission of nearly dying from COVID-19, reinforces that he’s not deserving of a Ryder Cup selection.

He usually gets a pass with his various run-ins with the truth and may again this time. But I make this case in The Quadrilateral after laying out the record of admitting to and backtracking the cause of his illness.

If you want the short version of what he said, both Doug Ferguson (here) and Bob Harig (here) file skeptical accounts of Reed’s weird claims.

Tour Says 85% Of "Constituents" Vaccinated But Bryson's Going To Wait Until It's Really, Really Mainstream

Bob Harig at ESPN.com with a couple of stories worth checking out if you’re not totally exhausted by First World COVID issues.

The Tour gave updated numbers on vaccination and while their testing program has ended a bit too soon given the Delta variant, the numbers are encouraging for conducting safe events.

From the story:

"Given the increase in cases across the country, resumption of some level of serial testing is a possibility," said Andy Levinson, senior vice president, tournament administration for the PGA Tour, in an email. "However, at this time with our high vaccination rates across core constituents, our medical advisors have not recommended testing of asymptomatic individuals regardless of vaccination status."

The PGA Tour reported that 85% of its "constituents' are fully vaccinated. That includes a rate above 70% for players and above 90% for caddies. Others who were included and were routinely tested at tournaments: rules officials, tournament administrators and media relations personnel.

This was overshadowed by Bryson DeChambeau’s return from a mild bout with COVID and his insistence that he not get vaccinated then or now.

DeChambeau seems to believe there are vaccine shortages.

"I'm young enough, I'd rather give it [the vaccine] to people who need it. I don't need it. I'm a healthy, young individual that will continue to work on my health.

"I don't think taking the vaccine away from someone who needs it is a good thing. My dad is a perfect example. He got it [the vaccine] early on because he's a diabetic. People like that need to get it. My mom got it. I don't want to take away that ability."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said there are no vaccine shortages in the United States.

DeChambeau added: "Now as time goes on, if it [the vaccine] is mainstream, really, really mainstream, then yeah."

On this topic, I wrote in this week’s Quadrilateral about the oddity of having rambunctious team bonding activities indoors at the Ryder Cup.

Rahm Is Well, Likely The Victim Of "Remnant Viral Particles"

Of the two high profile golfers to miss the Tokyo Olympics over a positive COVID test, Jon Rahm is the first to speak and while he’s healthy, he’s also miffed by what exactly knocked him out of the Games.

From Doug Ferguson of AP:

More maddening to Rahm is searching for answers on why this happened to him.

“I haven’t had two experts tell me the same thing,” he said.

Andy Levinson, the PGA Tour’s senior vice president who has overseen the COVID-19 protocols, was not involved in any of Rahm’s tests and hasn’t spoken to him. From his experience and working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he said it sounded like what the tour dealt with last summer.

Some players still tested positive for weeks — sometimes months — after 10 days of isolation and no symptoms.

“The reason the CDC does not require someone to test again after 10 days of isolation is it’s very likely that for some period the test is going to detect remnant viral particles,” said Levinson, who also is head of USA Golf at the Olympics.

Rahm's 2021 Olympic Dream Ends With Another COVID Positive

🇪🇸 Olympics pic.twitter.com/ZsXg3GDEsh

— Jon Rahm Rodriguez (@JonRahmpga) July 25, 2021

Plenty remains unexplained but for now we’ll just go with the IGF press release and Rahm’s statement above.

IGF STATEMENT REGARDING TEAM SPAIN 

TOKYO, JAPAN (July 25, 2021) – The International Golf Federation was informed on Sunday that Jon Rahm tested positive for COVID-19 as part of the final testing protocol before leaving for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and therefore is unable to compete for Spain. 

The Spanish Olympic Committee stated that without adequate time to find a replacement and comply with the necessary health protocols required for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Spain will only be represented by Adri Arnaus.

In accordance with the IGF’s Late Athlete Replacement Policy, the next available athlete identified by the IGF Reallocation Reserve List will replace Rahm, following nomination by his National Olympic Committee. 

The men’s Olympic competition begins Thursday, July 29 (local time) at Kasumigaseki Country Club.

Rahm test positive during the Memorial Tournament and was forced to withdraw. He had received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine earlier in the week after a close contact. Rahm then came back to win the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

He’s since traveled to the asymptmtc Scottish Open and The Open Championship where he was presumably tested multiple times. Rahm joins Bryson Dechambeau and caddie Austin Johnson as known cases post-Open.

The PGA Tour’s COVID-19 testing program was set to end this week at the 3M Championship according to GolfDigest.com’s Tod Leonard.

Presumably his case will be of interest beyond golf to determine how he could so quickly have tested positive again and whether the highly contagious Delta variant played a role.

**World No. 199 Jorge Campillo is going to take Rahm’s spot.

IGF STATEMENT REGARDING TEAM SPAIN 

TOKYO, JAPAN (July 26, 2021) – The Spanish Olympic Committee has informed the International Golf Federation that Jorge Campillo will replace Jon Rahm as a representative of Team Spain in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. 

Campillo will join Adri Arnaus in representing Team Spain for the men’s competition which begins Thursday, July 29 at Kasumigaseki Country Club.

DeChambeau Out Of Olympics Due To COVID Positive, Reed Steps In

USA Golf announced the unfortunate news of Bryson DeChambeau testing COVID-19 positive. He is out of the Tokyo games and will be replaced by Patrick Reed.

This is one of those press releases that should have ended after the third graph…

Bryson DeChambeau tested positive for COVID-19, as part of the final testing protocol before he left the United States for the Olympics 2020 in Japan. He will be unable to compete for Team USA. 

Patrick Reed will replace DeChambeau and is undergoing the requisite testing protocol today, Sunday and Monday before departing for Japan. The first round of competition is Thursday, July 29 (local time). Reed is now the only two-time Olympian for the men’s competition, as he played for Team USA in 2016 and will now compete in the 2020 Olympics.  

Representing Team USA Golf now includes Patrick Reed plus Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele in the men’s competition, and Nelly Korda, Danielle Kang, Lexi Thompson and Jessica Korda in the women’s competition.  

“I am so excited to have the opportunity to represent our country and be a part of Team USA in Tokyo,” said Reed.  “I wish Bryson nothing but the best, and I know how disappointed he is to not be able to compete, and I will do my best to play my best and represent our country.”  

“I am deeply disappointed not to be able to compete in the Olympics for Team USA,” said DeChambeau.  “Representing my country means the world to me and it is was a tremendous honor to make this team. I wish Team USA the best of luck next week in Tokyo. I will now focus on getting healthy, and I look forward to returning to competition once I am cleared to do so.” 

No mention of having been vaccinated and yet, testing positive.

Barring a false positive we’ll put him down for still researching the vaccine.

“We’re obviously disappointed for Bryson, as we know how much he was looking forward to representing the United States in his first Olympics,” said Andy Levinson, USA Golf Executive Director.  “But we’re thrilled that Patrick Reed is excited to play for his country when he is called upon,

He’s not be asked to storm the beaches of Normandy, but go on…

even with the strenuous testing protocols and he is set to arrive just in time to compete – on a golf course he will have never seen prior to the start of competition. It really illustrates the importance of the Olympics and the value Patrick places on playing for Team USA and for his country.  We’re excited to welcome him to Tokyo soon and know he’ll be a formidable competitor for Team USA.”

We really didn’t need the hard sell.

Then again, as Bob Harig noted for ESPN.com, Reed was third alternate after Patrick Cantlay and Brooks Koepka. They presumably declined.

Matsuyama Tests Positive For COVID-19, Open Championship Eligibility Unclear

While Jon Rahm was able to take a private flight home to isolate and return after two negative COVID tests, the upcoming status of Hideki Matsuyama is unclear based on limited information.

The Masters Champion’s mid-Rocket Mortgage Classic WD came after testing positive is the fifth since testing began. A PGA Tour statement did not suggest he was part of a contact tracing watch or if he was tested due to possible symptoms. He may have simply chosen not to be vaccinated and was infected during travels.

But as Adam Schupak notes for Golfweek, the rules are much tougher in the UK and the Open Championship looms in 12 days.

But will that be soon enough to play in the British Open, which is scheduled to begin in less than two weeks at Royal St George’s in England. The R&A recently informed contestants of its stiff requirements. It’s unclear whether the 29-year-old Japanese star will be required to self-quarantine in England upon his arrival, given his recent case of COVID. Based on the information at hand, it would appear Matsuyama’s ability to compete in the final major of 2021 potentially is in doubt.

Round one playing partner Phil Mickelson was asked about the news following his round.

I'm certainly concerned because although I've made every effort to not be around people, even playing partners even though they were tested because you just don't know. With the British Open, I think it's a concern on whether Hideki-san is able to play the British Open. Hopefully, he can. We're at the point now where if you were to come down with COVID, like you can't go to the U.K. and play. That's why we're all being so careful. I've been vaccinated, but still, people who have been vaccinated still get it. We're doing--myself, my brother, Andrew Getz and the people we're with are trying to stay as isolated and as careful as we can.

And…

It's certainly unsettling to know that I spent the entire day that close, but also as I look back, I know that I kept my distance from everybody and tried to stay six feet and tried--so I think we're all being as responsible as we can. And I'm very sorry that that happened to him and I hope he's able to play the British, and I also hope that Rickie and his caddie Joey and myself and my brother, that we're okay, too.

PGA Tour Ending COVID-19 On-Site Testing In July, Vaccination Rate Unknown

GolfDigest.com’s Tod Leonard reports that players have been notified of the full scale COVID-19 testing coming to an end at the 3M Championship this July. No player has been known to test positive since Jon Rahm’s high-profile case at the Memorial, one of around 35 detected or reported after players revealed to have experienced the virus (but not testing positive under the Tour program).

Leonard says there will still be testing available to those who experience symptoms and daily health surveys but could not get a vaccination rate out of the Tour.

I reported earlier this month that the LPGA was at 60% full vaccination of players, caddies and staff as of early this month and no positive cases since March.

According to Leonard, the unvaccinated will have to undergo contact tracing if they test positive.

Though unvaccinated people don’t have to undergo testing, according to the memo, there are distinctions made. Vaccinated individuals will not have to undergo contact tracing should they be around someone who has COVID-19, while those who haven’t been vaccinated must notify the tour and follow contact tracing protocols.

The memo says that those who have been vaccinated “should” upload a copy of their vaccination record to their Healthy Roster account, but the tour will require proof of vaccination should the player be involved in a contact tracing situation, a tour spokesperson said.

The story also notes this:

Since testing began, more than 25 tour players have tested positive for COVID-19, including some of the game’s most high-profile athletes: Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau, Adam Scott, Gary Woodland and Padraig Harrington. No PGA Tour player has reported serious illness or hospitalization due to the coronavirus.

It was Golf Digest’s Undercover Caddie that suggested there have been players hit harder than reported:

A few of the guys who did test positive got really sick, more than fans have been led to believe, and that certainly got our attention.

Given that the LPGA Tour has a better track record on positive cases this year despite a more worldly schedule and far less private jet travel, they were able to report vaccination rates without violating anyone’s privacy. In light of that, the Tour’s program seems like it should be able to end on a brighter note of at least some disclosure and assurance that it’s in line with vaccination rates seen in general society.

State Of The Game 112: PGL v. PGA Tour

Washington journalist Arthur MacMillan joins Mike Clayton, Rod Morri and yours truly to discuss a range of issues, including the Premier Golf League, Jon Rahm, Covid, player interviews, the US Open and more.

Listen below or get it on your favorite podcast app, with some links here.

The LPGA Tour Has Not Had A COVID-19 Case Since Early March

The Jon Rahm situation Saturday offered a stark reminder that COVID-19 can still happen and how golfers traveling the country face an increased risk of exposure.

The LPGA Tour has been traveling the globe with most of its players flying commercially. But the Tour also instituted a strict no-public dining policy through the the Asian events, a policy that was part of original PGA Tour “Return to Golf” protocols last year.

Upon my request, the LPGA Tour provided this update through last week’s U.S. Women’s Open conducted by the USGA. The numbers are impressive.

• The tour has had four confirmed COVID-19 positives through LPGA Tour testing since the start of the 2021 season.

• Just one confirmed positive since early March.

• As of the return from Asia, they have re-opened to outdoor dining at all establishments, with groups limited to four.

• More than 60% of players/caddies/staff are fully vaccinated, “with many more at various steps in the vaccination process.”

For context, the PGA Tour program and protocols have been widely viewed as a success. Yet they’ve still announced ten players as testing positive since early March. And for 2021, a total of sixteen were detected by the Tour testing system. Last Sunday, the PGA Tour’s Andy Levinson characterized the player vaccination rate as “north of 50%”.

The European Tour’s testing program has registered six positive cases in 2021, all since early March.