Fort Worth lands a ‘major’ win with PGA Tour’s announcement
Questions abound but on Thursday Fort Worth scored its biggest win since Annika Sorenstam teed off at No. 1 at Colonial in 2003.
The city of Fort Worth and Colonial Country Club will essentially host what will be a PGA Tour “major” with the Charles Schwab Challenge proceeding the week of June 8.
The PGA Tour had been in contact with the Colonial’s board as well as CBS TV executives and Charles Scwhab officials for the last several weeks discussing a variety of proposals to hold the event in while much of the world is likely to still be dealing with a pandemic.
Thursday was a “Announce it now, figure out the details later.”
What they announced on Thursday morning is the best they can do under the circumstances. Now they all have roughly two months to plan it under historically unique conditions, with the underlying fear that it could all change, or end, with no warning.
“We are very joyful they decided to pick it up with us,” said Rob Hood, Colonial Country Club’s chairman of the Charles Schwab Challenge, regrading the PGA Tour’s decision to re-start its condensed 2020 schedule in Fort Worth.
Dozens of scenarios had been proposed before they all agreed to push the event back a few weeks, and proceed with a televised PGA Tour tournament without spectators.
Colonial’s preference is to always have fans, but at this time officials from Charles Schwab, CBS, the Tour and Colonial agree that scenario is not yet plausible. Even the one they proposed may get scrapped.
Other than a few broadcast towers for CBS, and two starter’s tents at Hole No. 1 and 10, the temporary buildings constructed to hold the tournament at Colonial will not be necessary this year.
That means no party tents surrounding No. 13. The same for the other party villages that fans expect every spring.
“Of course I prefer fans but if they can do it without fans that’s as good a solution as any,” said Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. “It will be good for the city, especially if it’s the first tournament. It’s great exposure for Fort Worth.”
Which, right now, is the case.
At a minimum, Fort Worth, Colonial and Charles Schwab Challenge should command not only the golf but the entire sports’ calendar much in the same way when Sorenstam played here in 2003.
But that ‘03 event was always more of a marketing creation more than the conventional PGA Tour product.
With a field of 144 to fill, there is a good chance every name golfer you can think of will want to play Fort Worth this year. None of these guys has played a competitive round since the PGA Tour stopped The Player’s Championship after Day 1 on March 12.
“I do think this could be the best field we’ve ever had,” Hood said, however, no player has yet to commit.
That’s because there are questions. Dozens of them.
Where will the players stay? How many people will be allowed through Colonial’s gates? What are the rules for “social distancing”?
Will players, and caddies, potentially coming in from out of the country be subjected to quarantine restrictions, and protocols? Will players, and officials, etc. have to be tested before being allowed to participate?
Will the local charities that benefit every year from the millions raised via the tournament expect the same as previous years?
While members of the media will be permitted in to cover the event, there is no set number as to how many people will be allowed through the gates.
There will be some members of Colonial who will be allowed in to work the event, the same with the volunteers who help run the tournament. As to an exact number, that has yet to be determined.
(Writer’s note: I am a social member of Colonial. Please proceed with jokes and judgment).
Hood acknowledged that what is planned could change. All of it.
There is always the chance the tournament could be canceled, or postponed, pending further developments. There may even be a chance some fans could be allowed in, although that scenario is highly unlikely.
Hood said if people had purchased tickets they will be refunded. The club is currently discussing with companies who purchased tents and other groups that purchased entertainment areas about refunds.
Most of the details have not been determined, because the rules change every five minutes.
The only detail they all know now is the PGA Tour plans to play beginning on June 8 at Colonial in the Charles Schwab Challenge.
Every eyeball that ever cared about sports will be watching Fort Worth.
This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 5:48 PM.
