Memorial director says 'we will not have massive galleries' : Coronavirus

The Memorial Tournament may want to memorialize itself, because this year the event we know ― with many thousands of spectators, bleachers rising above the sea of green and draft beer spilling from plastic cups during dawn-to-dusk social hour ― is a thing of the past. At least until next May.

Twelve months hence things should be business as usual at Muirfield Village Golf Club, but for now not even Jack Nicklaus has the power to bring normalcy to the tournament he founded in 1976.

Memorial Tournament director Dan Sullivan on Thursday addressed changes coming to the PGA Tour event, which because of the coronavirus pandemic was moved from June 4-7 to July 16-19. As part of the Virtual Sports Report put on by the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, Sullivan outlined what this summer’s event will look like, leaving wiggle room due to the uncertainty of planning caused by COVID-19.

• Spectator attendance will be limited. There remains the possibility that fans will not be allowed on tournament grounds ― a decision that rests mostly with the governor’s office ― but short of that galleries will be spread thin. Volunteers, both on-course and behind the scenes, will required to wear masks and both they and fans will have their temperatures taken before entry.

“The 2019 Memorial Tournament, if anyone was out here looking at it, that will not be what we create this year,” Sullivan said. “We will not have massive galleries. We will not have people on top of each other. We know that’s irresponsible and we can’t do it.”

How many fewer fans there will be remains unknown; Sullivan and his team should have a better idea by the end of May after checking ticket sales, which already have slowed. But better safe than sorry will rule the day.

“We will make sure we produce a tournament that is extremely safe,” Sullivan said. “We have an environment that, because of the nature of our landscape ― we have over nine million square feet to work with ― our venues can spread out and allow for a limited amount of people.”

And if no fans are allowed in? Tournament officials will monitor the Colonial (June 11-14) and RBC Heritage (June 18-21) PGA Tour events, which will be played without spectators, to see how they host fan-free tournaments.

“We want to make sure we engage our community (if no fans can attend the Memorial), because this tournament we think is important to the fabric of Columbus,” Sullivan said, adding that if nothing else he hopes people still find a way to give to tournament beneficiary Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

• No grandstands will be erected, and concession stands will sell beer in bottles only. As for monitoring crowds to keep large groups from congregating ― the party scene along No. 14 fairway will go on the wagon for a year ― Sullivan said officials can track individual fan movement via transponders in the badges they must wear to enter.

“Anything outside the fence we don’t have control over,” he said, referencing the corporate house parties that happen along the course just outside club grounds. “Inside we will control every venue. We will consider it very much like a restaurant or bar. We will manage as the state mandates at that time. If it means half-capacity at the clubhouse or one of our venues, then that’s what we’ll do.”

The Memorial will look different on television, too.

“When CBS comes on property here they bring over 250 people. They’re not going to be doing that,” Sullivan said. “There will be different camera angles. Some on-air personalities may not be on-site.”

The pandemic packs a punch concerning club planning, too. Sullivan would not comment on the status of major course renovations that originally were scheduled to begin in June, but he spoke hopefully of how the Memorial can leave a positive mark.

“There are still a lot of unknowns, but we may be one of the first events back for people to get outside and enjoy themselves,” he said. “We can tell our story outside of Ohio, and it can be a chance for Ohio to say we’re getting back in the right way.”

It will be a challenge, but done correctly the Memorial can tee off on the fear and frustration created by this cruel virus. Can’t wait to see it.

Rob Oller is a columnist for the Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA Today Network. Contact him at roller@dispatch.com or follow him on Twitter at @rollerCD