NCAA coronavirus advisory panel: Amesh Adalja discusses how college football season is at risk
Playing 2020 football season ‘under intense discussion’ by coronavirus NCAA advisory panel
President Trump details timeline of sports returning
AUGUSTA – The 2020 Masters Tournament was slated to begin Thursday and conclude Sunday.
The coronavirus pandemic has postponed the annual spring tradition played at Augusta National.
On Monday, Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, released a statement regarding a Nov. 9-15 target date to play the 2020 Masters.
Statement from Chairman Ridley:
“On March 13, we announced the postponement of the Masters Tournament and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur based upon the risks associated with the Coronavirus COVID-19, a pandemic that continues to impact lives everywhere.
“We remain very mindful of the extraordinary and unprecedented challenges presented by the Coronavirus around the world. As such, we continue to keep in close contact with local, state and national health authorities to help inform our decisions.
“In collaboration with the leading organizations in golf, Augusta National Golf Club has identified November 9-15 as the intended dates to host the 2020 Masters. While more details will be shared in the weeks and months to come, we, like all of you, will continue to focus on all mandated precautions and guidelines to fight against the Coronavirus. Along the way, we hope the anticipation of staging the Masters Tournament in the fall brings a moment of joy to the Augusta community and all those who love the sport.
“We want to emphasize that our future plans are incumbent upon favorable counsel and direction from health officials. Provided that occurs and we can conduct the 2020 Masters, we intend to invite those professionals and amateurs who would have qualified for our original April date and welcome all existing ticket holders to enjoy the excitement of Masters week.”
President Trump on the Masters and sports returning
President Donald Trump was asked about the Masters issuing a re-scheduled target date of Nov. 9-15 during Monday’s Coronavirus Task Force press conference.
A target date of having the 2020 Masters Tournament from Nov. 9-15 will coincide with Tennessee’s football game at Georgia on Nov. 14.
“I hope it’s rescheduled,” Trump said during Monday’s Coronavirus Task Force press conference. “I hope football is able to start. I hope baseball can get to play a little bit. I hope basketball can maybe do their playoffs. I mean, hey, I have no interests or anything other than I want what’s good for the country.
“A lot of people are tired of looking at games that are five years old. I looked the other day, I saw somebody, I said, “Wow, he looks great.” I forgot. I said, “Oh, that was nine years ago.” I said, “He’s really in great shape.” Well, not in great shape now, but he was in great shape then. It was nine years ago. You get tired of looking at nine year old baseball games and playoff games that took place 12 years ago. I don’t have much time to do that, frankly, but that’s what people are doing, and they want to see sports. Sports are a great thing for this country and I hope football can start.”