Miami (AFP)
World golf number one Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson (5th) will team up against Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff, in an exhibition match May 17 at Juno Beach, Florida, to raise money for charity against coronavirus.
The event called "TaylorMade Driving Relief" will take place behind closed doors at the Seminole Golf Club, the organizers announced on Monday. It will be broadcast live on NBC Sports, the UK channel Sky Sports, as well as free streaming on the PGA Tour website.
The goal is to raise at least $ 3 million for the American Nurses Foundation and the Center for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Foundation).
The event will follow strict social distancing guidelines as defined by health authorities, the statement said. Thus "appropriate test measures" will be put in place to protect the health of the players, the production team and other people on the site.
"We are delighted with the return of golf, in safe conditions, and the opportunity to raise significant funds for those on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic," said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.
Like other sports, the golf season has been halted for almost two months due to the pandemic and many male and female tournaments have been canceled or postponed.
But the PGA circuit has scheduled a resumption of competition on June 11, during the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth (Texas), which will be played behind closed doors.
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