The USGA announced overnight its one-time exemption categories for the 120th US Open, with the one-day, 36-hole marathon sectional qualifiers having been replaced by season standings, world-ranking positions and good old-fashioned results.
Those who test positive are being told to self-isolate for at least 10 days, and they need to have two negative test results at least 24 hours apart before returning to tour action.
Henrik Stenson in his boxer briefs. Tommy Fleetwood blow-drying his hair. Colin Montgomerie driven to distraction by a fly. Justin Rose tossing expletives up a storm. And Gary Player, well, being Gary Player.
Here’s one more reason to scrutinise The Match: Champions for Charity on Sunday: Phil Mickelson contends he’s found a way to be more accurate with his driver.
His PGA Tour ride long since over at the age of 48, Ernie Gonzalez was working graveyard shifts in a Las Vegas beverage distributorship when he Monday qualified for the 2009 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
The organisers said strict safety measures will be taken, including no spectators and FDA-approved testing to ensure the health and safety of the golfers and production crew.
US President Donald Trump held a conference call on Saturday with leaders of many of America’s professional sports organisations, including PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and his LPGA counterpart, Michael Whan.
There are a handful of other lingering queries for the sport that are worth exploring – and that can provide a pleasant distraction as we ponder them.