Ohio Governor Says Memorial Tournament Can Go Ahead With Lighter Crowds

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who has won widespread approval in his state for his strict COVID-19 measures, gave his blessing to the Memorial Tournament’s plans to bring fans back to golf.

From Bob Harig’s story about the July 16-19 event:

"In each one of these cases, they have come up with a plan that in many cases dramatically decrease the number of people and provide for sanitation,'' DeWine said. "In some cases, [they] provide for one-way traffic. They are quite elaborate plans.''

The tournament press release in response:

June 5, 2020 

THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY NATIONWIDE RECEIVES STATE SUPPORT TO ALLOW PATRON ATTENDANCE FOR 2020 EVENT

The Memorial presented by Nationwide would like to recognize the successful efforts led by Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted and Dr. Amy Acton in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. The State of Ohio has been a leader in identifying the tremendous threat that began to appear in January and was one of the first to take drastic action to curb the spread and reduce deaths. Their implemented plan has produced encouraging results and allowed for the slow process of opening the State to business and gradually allowing Ohioans to return to a level of normalcy, including the ability to permit patrons at this year’s Memorial. With the support of the PGA TOUR, who the Tournament has worked jointly with throughout this process, the Memorial is looking forward to partnering with State, County and City leadership, along with the Memorial COVID -19 Task Force, to offer the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide as an example of how public gathering events can be developed and implemented with approved and accepted protocols in place. 

 The Memorial Tournament will issue a full release with more details over the coming week.

In other news regarding the first major championship of three scheduled for August, 2020, California officials signaled that more loosening of restrictions will be announced next week, including regarding audience-free sports events.

News was expected this week regarding plans for August’s PGA Championship at Harding Park.