The Masters in November? Better than never

By Art Spander

Be prepared for disappointment. This is what a senior researcher at Johns Hopkins University told the Washington Post, when asked when sports would return to normal.

“And I’m a huge sports fan,” said Jared Evans, the researcher.

Disappointment? Hasn’t there been enough already? Wasn’t the Open Championship, the British Open, cancelled Monday, joining the Final Four — the title game would have been Monday night — and Wimbledon?

Hasn’t the NBA been placed in limbo, along with baseball? And weren’t so many high school championships scrubbed because of, yes, that apparently unbeatable opponent, the novel coronavirus.

We understand. Our world, the world of fun and games, is not the real world, the one where people are dying from a disease we were barely conscious of three months ago, the one with which doctors and nurses are struggling gallantly and officials debate the distribution of ventilators.

Hard to think of people trying to find ways to win games or tournaments when epidemiologists are trying to find a vaccine against the virus — a necessity, we’re told, if stadiums and arenas are to be packed once more.

Golf is a hope. Not, in this case, as a participant sport but a spectator sport.

We lost The Open, the announcement of cancellation interestingly coming only a few hours after Queen Elizabeth II tried to rally fellow Britons against the crisis created by the virus.

The 149th Open was scheduled for July at Royal St. George’s on the English Channel, but the R&A said a change in date was not possible. For the major events in the United States, fortunately, date changes — if extreme ones — could be made.

The PGA Championship, to be played at Harding Park in San Francisco, has been moved from May to Aug. 6-9, which is ironic. For most of the past 50 years the PGA was played on the first weekend in August, but the decision was made that starting in 2019 the event would shift to May to get away from the start of football season. And now, for a year at least, it’s back against football.

If not positioned as the last year’s major, as it used to be. That slot is to belong to the Masters, which in normal times is an introduction to spring. This year, anything but normal, the Masters will be played Nov. 12-15.

The U.S. Open is moved to Sept. 17-20, from its traditional mid-June dates. As of yet it hasn’t been moved from Winged Foot in the suburbs of New York, although on Monday there were stories it would go to Pebble Beach — site of the 2019 Open — or Torrey Pines, and either of those might happen.

So much of sport is tradition. We know what’s coming and when, from the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day to the last NFL regular season games in December. But the suspensions and cancellations have disturbed our rhythm, thrown us off balance.

No basketball, no baseball, no golf, no tennis, no hockey, not even any Premier League soccer. How are we supposed to know what day it is? Or even what week or month?

The Masters in November is going to be strange, yet better in November than never. If there are no azaleas, there will still be birdies.

What historically has been the start, of the season, of golf — of baseball certainly — will instead become the finish, more or less. That’s if everything works out, and despite the optimism, there’s no promise it does work out.

NFL games in California in September with stadiums — the new one for the Rams and Chargers, Levi’s in Santa Clara for the 49ers? “I’m not anticipating that happening” said Gavin Newsom, the state’s governor. “I would move very cautiously in that expectation.”

Moving cautiously is better than not moving at all. We’re prepared for disappointment. We’re ready for some satisfaction.

Sporting tradition can’t compete with the coronavirus

By Art Spander
For Maven Sports

OAKLAND, Calif. — Every few minutes there’s another email, another postponement or cancellation, another disappointment.

The Kentucky Derby to September; the PGA Championship, the one at San Francisco’s Harding Park, from May to who knows when; the Ryder Cup from September to next year.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2020, The Maven

Adam Scott got the trophy at Riviera; now he wants the win

By Art Spander
For Maven Sports

 

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — They gave Adam Scott the trophy but not the win. He came in first in a tournament that didn’t count. Now, 15 years later, in the same event, with a different name, Scott has the chance to do it again, this time officially.

 

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2020, The Maven 

At the Genesis, Tiger is in it — and out of it

By Art Spander
For Maven Sports

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Bill Veeck was a promoter. He also owned different baseball teams, the St. Louis Browns (who were to become the Baltimore Orioles), the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox. He understood sports and the public’s acceptance or rejection.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2020, The Maven 

The Genesis is the Tiger Tournament in everything but name

By Art Spander
For Maven Sports

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — It used to be Bing Crosby. Then Bob Hope. But is there a singular figure from the dozens of 21st-century entertainers and sporting heroes both famous enough and connected to the game to host his own golf tournament?

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2020, The Maven

Mickelson: ‘I got outplayed, and I’m fine with that’

By Art Spander
For Maven Sports

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — For a moment there, when he was 3-under-par on the first six holes, it seemed Phil Mickelson, back on the course he loves, was going to show us again it didn’t matter how old he was or how few fairways he hit — that it was magic time once more.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2020, The Maven 

Spieth still trying to get back to being the golfer he was

By Art Spander
For Maven Sports

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — He finished strong, a birdie on 17. Sure, Jordan Spieth after a 2-under 70 is a mile out of the lead. But he played a much tougher course, Spyglass Hill, than the guy, Nick Taylor, who shot a 63 at Monterey Peninsula.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2020, The Maven 

Newsday (N.Y.): American Tony Finau continues improvement at major tournaments

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Tony Finau is the baggage handler’s son from Salt Lake City who turned down a college basketball scholarship — he was a great rebounder in high school — to become a golf pro and play on the mini-tours. He got his education on the greens instead of the classrooms.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2019 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday (N.Y.): Shane Lowry wins British Open in its celebrated return to Emerald Isle

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — It was a triumph for a man, and no less for a land. Irishman Shane Lowry on Sunday won the first British Open played in Ireland in 68 years, clutching the famed claret jug for himself while sharing joy with his elated countrymen.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2019 Newsday. All rights reserved. 

Newsday (N.Y.): Irishman Shane Lowry leads British Open after brilliant 63 in third round

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — The chants rolled across the fairways and down to the sea. “Ole, ole, ole, oh-lay.” An Irishman was leading the British Open, the first one held on Irish soil in 68 years. Shane Lowry’s countrymen were shouting their glee.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2019 Newsday. All rights reserved. 

Newsday (N.Y.): J.B. Holmes, Shane Lowry share British Open lead after 36 holes

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — This is what the Open Championship, the British Open, is supposed to be: Birdies and bogeys, big names and no-names, and halfway through practically everybody in contention.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2019 Newsday. All rights reserved.