Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Tuesday 17 March 2020

In this April 5, 2018, file photo, Augusta National Golf Club Chair-
man Fred Ridley watches the honorary first tee shots before the
first round at the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga.
Associated Press
Report: Augusta

Crews cover the ice at American Airlines Center in Dallas, home of the Dallas Stars hockey team, National to close club
after the NHL season was put on hold due to coronavirus, Thursday, March 12, 2020.
Associated Press by end of the week
NHL pushes back timeline on By DOUG FERGUSON Still to be determined is

potential resumption of season AP Golf Writer when it could be resched-
uled, which is the club's
Augusta National first post-
poned the Masters. Now plan. Ridley's letter comes
the home of the Masters is one day after the Centers
By STEPHEN WHYNO and ing on world develop- return home is unknown. closing its club. for Disease Control and
JOHN WAWROW ments," consideration will "I've spoken to some play- Golf Digest obtained a let- Prevention recommended
AP Hockey Writers be given to reopening ers who are doing their ter from Chairman Fred that events of 50 or more
The NHL is pushing back the practice facilities after the best to obviously scramble Ridley to Augusta National people be shut down for
possibility of resuming its self-quarantine period ends to return to the safest, most members that says the club eight weeks. That would
season for several weeks, if in late March. comfortable environment will close by the end of the last until the second full
not a month or more. NBA Commissioner Adam that they can get to at this week because of increas- week in May.
The league and NHL Play- Silver last week said his point," Grossman said. ing concerns over the new Still up in the air is the sec-
ers' Association told players league's hiatus would likely Players previously were coronavirus and how it ond major of the year,
Monday they can go home last at least a month. After directed to stay in their might affect the staff. the PGA Championship,
— even out of North Amer- saying last week the sea- team's city and wait. The The club would confirm scheduled for May 14-17 in
ica — and must self-isolate son was on "pause," Com- league and union had dis- only that a memo had San Francisco.
through March 27 while the missioner Gary Bettman cussed the possibility of been sent. The PGA of America on
season is on hold amid the had not put a time frame players returning to team "Beginning today, we are Monday postponed its an-
coronavirus pandemic. But on when the NHL could re- training facilities within the taking the necessary steps nual championship for club
the NHL also cautioned sume play. next week or so, but that to curtail our operations so, professionals that deter-
that it will not be able to "The pause will be until it's plan has similarly changed. by the end of this week, mines which 20 play in the
even provide guidance on appropriate and prudent Those facilities are currently the Club will be closed until PGA Championship — but
the potential reopening of and safe to start back up," closed to players. further notice," Ridley said that's assuming the major is
team practices for another Bettman said last week. "We'll be constantly in in the memo obtained by held.
45 days, which could make "Nobody knows how long touch with the NHL and Golf Digest. The PGA Professional
May the earliest possible re- the hiatus may be. No- constantly re-evaluating," Ridley said the grounds Championship was sched-
start date. body, even the medical NHLPA executive director would be maintained with uled for April 26-29 in
The new directives come community, can predict it Don Fehr said last week. limited personnel and said Austin, Texas. If the PGA
on the heels of the CDC's with certainty. "Any date you pick out is other duties would be han- Championship is held, the
recommendation against And what we're doing is, merely going to be a best dled remotely. He said he leading 20 club pros from
gatherings of 50 or more we're modeling every con- guess and it has about would review the situation its player-of-the-year points
people in the U.S. for the ceivable alternative so that as much likelihood of be- and send timely updates, standings in 2019 would be
next eight weeks because when it's appropriate to go ing right as any other best and he thanked the mem- selected.
of the coronavirus pan- back to work, we will know guess." bers for "patience and trust The PGA of America says it
demic. Under the NHL's what our options and our Deputy Commissioner Bill as we plan for the realities is staying in touch with of-
new timeline, it would alternatives are." Daly told The AP teams of this pandemic." ficials from San Francisco
mean facilities would not The U.S. government has had been instructed to The Masters was scheduled and state leaders in Califor-
be opened until late April imposed a travel ban from take care of arrangements for April 9-12. This will be nia, evaluating plans and
at the earliest. Europe for non-citizens that for and pay players under the first time since 1946 — keeping health the highest
"I think in light of the CDC extends until mid-April. contract. when the Masters resumed priority.
recommendations, it's hard There are currently 233 Eu- That was in light of the mi- after World War II — that San Francisco was among
to foresee that we're look- ropean players on NHL ros- nor league ECHL's decision golf's most viewed tourna- six Bay Area counties that
ing at much happening ters, including leading scor- to cancel the rest of its sea- ment is not the first full week were issued an order Mon-
here in March or even April, er Leon Draisaitl from Ger- son. in April. Augusta National day for residents to stay in-
in my opinion," agent Jay many, and there are more The NHL suspended its sea- closes about a month after side and to venture outside
Grossman said. on contracts who are in the son with 189 games remain- the Masters for the summer only for necessities for the
The league said "depend- minors. How many might ing before the playoffs. q and reopens in October. next three weeks.q