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Masters officials are still planning to stage next month’s tournament – but are reckoned to be seriously exploring the prospect of playing it behind closed doors.

According to Golf Digest’s Brian Wacker and Joel Beall, the first men’s major championship of the season is proceeding as planned.

However, the Green Jackets are believed to be “reviewing contingencies”, which includes limiting patrons or playing on empty course.

A decision is expected to be made by Monday at the latest.

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Beall’s sources have it that “everything is on the table” at the moment, although the tournament is expected to go ahead, assuming that all competitors will have travel access to US.

A week after stating tournament will proceed as planned, Augusta National is reviewing contingencies for the 2020 Masters, sources tell @brianwacker1 and I, which includes limiting patrons or playing on empty course. Decision expected over weekend or Monday

— Joel Beall (@JoelMBeall) March 12, 2020

Last night, the US
president Donald Trump announced a blanket ban on travel from
‘continental’ Europe that will come into effect from 9am on Friday and
will last for 30 days.

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The first round of the Masters is scheduled to get underway on April 9 – 28 days from today.

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Whilst other sports have wasted no time in responding to the spread of the virus – the NBA season, for example, was written off last night – golf in America has largely resisted postponing tournaments.

This week’s PLAYERS Championship got underway as scheduled this morning. However, fans have been advised that players will not be signing autographs at TPC Sawgrass.

topics

The Masters Augusta National coronavirus PGA Tour Major Championships Green Jacket TPC Sawgrass The Players Championship

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor