Brendon Todd should have been in Dallas this week for the AT&T Byron Nelson, a tournament he won in 2014 for his maiden PGA Tour title. It’s been well documented how Todd lost his game – and his Tour card – and finally emerged from the abyss late last season to win not once, but twice. You wouldn’t blame him if he were to paraphrase the Bishop in Caddyshack: “The good lord would never disrupt the greatest season of my life.”
Well, Todd’s season has been on hold since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which definitely deserves another line from Bishop Fred: “Oh, rat farts!”
Todd is anxious to get back to work and recapture the magic that led to back-to-back victories at the Bermuda Championship and the Mayakoba Classic, even if that means taking some chances flying to tournaments and staying in hotels. The Tour is targeting to return to action at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 11, and Todd revealed the latest plans being discussed to make that happen. He said the Tour will require players to self-test for coronavirus at home before heading to the event, again upon arrival and a third time during the week. A positive test for the virus would require a player to self-quarantine for 14 days.
“It sounds like each person will be tested, even the walking scorers, the officials, to make sure we are COVID-free and healthy. I feel good with that process,” he said. “I’m really excited to get back to playing.”
While details of the Tour’s plan haven’t been finalized, Todd said that the Tour is seeking one or two hotels that are deemed safe for all of the players, caddies and officials to stay, and limit dining to the clubhouse, and potentially even closing the locker room to provide the safest environment to conduct events. How would Todd feel about changing his shoes in the parking lot?
“You’re talking to a guy who played 20 Monday qualifiers two years ago and probably 10 last year. I’m all too used to changing my shoes in the parking lot,” he said. “Even when you play the Desert Classic in Palm Springs we have different courses, you’re in a parking lot. As funny as that may sound, it’s not that big of a deal.”
There is much more to be determined before golf resumes in June, including whether caddies will be able to tend a flagstick, rake a bunker, or even be allowed at all?
Todd, for one, said that as long as everyone tests negative, he doesn’t have a problem with caddies going about their business as usual.
“We’ll be trying to stay 6 feet away but you’re not going to stay 6 feet from your caddie at all times,” Todd said. “I think caddies will rake bunkers just for the spirit of competition. Everybody is being tested and if you are going to test everybody and you know they don’t have it…you have to trust they will also be able to rake the same bunker.”
But if push comes to shove, Todd is willing to carry his own bag and play on a temporary basis without a caddie.
“Not because I don’t want the caddies out there earning a living, but I think getting us back on the golf course and competing is important and is something I’d like to do,” he said.
The Tour already announced that the first four events on the revised schedule will be played without fans in attendance. Todd is concerned that if a situation arises where multiple players or caddies or others involved in hosting the event test positive it could lead to a scenario where the Tour will have no choice but to stop play again, but it’s a chance he’s willing to take, if proper testing can be conducted.
“That’s a better situation than going to a crowded grocery store,” he said.
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