Men's golf domestic tour restarted for the first time in 8 months Thorough measures against corona infection September 3 20:30
The domestic tour of Men's Golf, which had been canceled one after another due to the influence of the new coronavirus, was resumed on the 3rd, after about 8 months.
In the first round, Volunteer Ito stood in the tentative top with 5 under, and Ryo Ishikawa lags behind in the tentative 72nd place with 3 overs.
It is the first time in eight months that the men's golf domestic tour will be canceled and postponed again after the opening game in Singapore this January.
The tournament, which will be the first match in Japan, started in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture from the 3rd, and in an exceptional form that does not include spectators, a PCR test of approximately 770 athletes and related people is conducted in advance to delimit the area where related people can enter. It was held under the thorough infection control.
In addition, 21 people could not finish the game by the sunset because of the suspension of more than 1 hour and 20 minutes due to lightning.
Ryo Ishikawa, who started from the 10th, took the birdie in the first hole, but in the 11th that followed, the tee shot was bent to the right and the double bogey was hit as an OB.
However, in the latter half, he went around with no bogey and finished the first round with a provisional 72nd place with 2 birdies, 1 bogey, 2 double bogeys, 3 overs.
Volunteer Ito stands 5 under at the tentative top, followed by Hirodai Ichihara in tentative second place with a stroke.
Yutaka Ito, a provisional top "It was a perfect day"
“I had a perfect day. It was almost a perfect day. I'm grateful that I can play a match now, and I want to do my best by accumulating pars tomorrow,” he said. ..
In addition, to cover infection, Hirohiro Ichihara, who was 2nd place with a one-stroke gap, interviewed the press room and the remote conference room next door.
Ichihara said, "I was waiting for this day, so I was deeply moved and I was more nervous in the start hall. I was very happy today, but I'm not distracted, so I don't mind every stroke in front of me. I want to do it all the way to the end."
In addition, Ryo Ishikawa, who finished the first day in the provisional 72nd place with 3 overs, said, "It was a mess of golf in the first half and it was about the worst step before. I could not do according to the plan due to nervousness, so today is very It was a disappointing round, but I would like to do my best to do my best.
In addition, regarding the infection control measures at the tournament, “I felt again that I am thankful for the audience because of the lack of cheering that I am accustomed to. I felt that it was a great support for the audience. Since it has become a social issue, I think we must continue to face it firmly and think of good ways to do it."
Domestic tour of men's golf resumed for the first time in 8 months
The men's golf domestic tour this season opened in January, and the opening match was held in Singapore with the Asia Tour.
However, after that, due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, the tournament could not be held, such as the domestic first game scheduled for April was canceled, so 17 tournaments have been canceled or postponed so far ..
With this tournament, the men's domestic tour will resume for the first time in about eight months.
On the other hand, of the top 65 men's tournament prize money rankings, 31 overseas players do not participate in this tournament at all.
Since last month, the government has allowed foreign nationals with a residence status in Japan to re-enter Japan, but after entering Japan, they are required to leave the area for two weeks.
Also, after this tournament, domestic tours will not be played for at least one month, so it has been difficult for overseas players to come to Japan.
In response to this situation, the Japan Golf Tour Organization has decided that if the number of games is small due to cancellation or postponement of the tournament, the prize ranking will not reflect the ability of the players, and this season and next season will be integrated into one season. I have decided to do it.
Along with this, the prize king and seed rights will also be determined by the overall results until the next season.
Corona measures for golf tours
In order to prevent infection with the new coronavirus, the men's golf domestic tour is taking various measures according to the guidelines created by five domestic golf-related organizations.
At present, professional sports games are allowed by the national guidelines to have up to 5,000 spectators, or half of the capacity, whichever is smaller. I'm holding a match.
Golf held outdoors is in an environment where there is no contact between players, and so-called "three denseness" that raises the risk of infection with the new coronavirus is unlikely to occur.
However, according to the guidelines, there are risks associated with the movement of tours that are held while moving around the country and many spectators come from various places.
Also, depending on the tournament, we asked athletes and other related people to enter the venue two weeks before the tournament, in addition to taking a temperature check and a health check on the questionnaire, as well as a record of their activities. I am.
This time, a total of 769 people including athletes and people involved in the tournament were tested, and a positive response was given to one person involved in the tournament, so this person will not be involved in the tournament and the match itself will be held.
In addition to this, the number of reporters to be interviewed is greatly limited, and interviews with athletes will be interviewed in principle in a remote format.
Thorough measures to prevent corona infection
This tournament, which was held for the first time in 8 months as a men's tour and was held for the first time in Japan, was held without an audience.
All 769 visitors to the venue, including athletes, caddies, and the press, were preliminarily subjected to a PCR test, and at the venue, the entrances for the athletes, caddies, and press were divided into three, and temperature measurements were conducted. Thorough infection prevention measures have been taken, such as the entry of club members into the clubhouse, which had been admitted until now, was restricted.
The opening ceremony was held with only a small number of people involved in the tournament and the players who were present, and Isao Aoki, chairman of the Japan Golf Tour Organization, said, "At last, the first match in Japan will be held. I think I will play golf that I can meet the expectations of everyone while I have it."
In addition, Takamitsu Tokimatsu, Chairman of the Player, said, "Although we are not an audience, we will do our best to show the excellent play of men's golf through the media, so please support us."
At the start of the first round, Ryo Ishikawa's team greeted with a goo touch instead of a handshake like before, and then started playing.