Washington (AFP)
Tiger Woods will defend his green jacket as the winner of the last Masters behind closed doors, Augusta National Golf Club officials said on Wednesday, due to the risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The risks posed by the coronavirus are "simply too significant to be overcome", believe the organizers of one of the four Majors of professional golf, the next edition of which is scheduled for November 12 to 15.
"The health and safety of everyone associated with the Masters has always been our top priority," insisted Fred Ridley, Augusta president, for whom having to "organize the Masters without our regular customers is a deep disappointment".
Woods won his 15th Major last year in Augusta after 11 years of drought in Grand Slam tournaments. Almost 40,000 fans attend the Masters in Georgia each year.
After the cancellation of the British Open in July, the last two American rounds of the Grand Slam will therefore be played behind closed doors, like the USPGA won last weekend in San Francisco by the American Collin Morikawa.
From September 17 to 20, the US Open will be held behind closed doors at the Winged Foot course in Mamaroneck, near New York.
Finally, the Ryder Cup, a biennial team competition between Europe and the United States, has been postponed until the end of September 2021, on the Whistling Straits course in Wisconsin.
© 2020 AFP