The championship is part of the UK government’s “events research program”, which is designed to measure the level of transmission when large crowds gather and, in turn, hopefully open up events like Wimbledon, the British Grand Prix and The Open to more and more spectators.
The return of the Open Championship after a two-year hiatus will be cause for celebration this week. But reminders of why it was canceled last year still linger.
Bryson DeChambeau’s Open Championship odds held steady at 20-1 following his missed cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The odds for who will carry his bag at Royal St George’s next week, however, are a bit more interesting.
It’s been nearly 24 months since the R&A named Shane Lowry its last “champion golfer of the year,” the COVID-19 pandemic causing the cancellation of the Open Championship in 2020 for the first time since World War II.
The Victorian, who goes by the nickname ‘Digger’, followed up a two-under par 70 that mixed six birdies and four bogeys with a second-round 71 to finish on three-under 141.
In the wake of the PGA of America’s decision to move next year’s PGA Championship away from Trump National Bedminster, the R&A has underlined its reluctance to grant what is now Trump Turnberry the opportunity to host the Open for a fifth time.
The moves complete the shift in venues brought on by the decision to call off this year’s Open at Royal St George’s in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A fortnight was all the time it took for this year’s Open – what should have been the 149th playing of golf’s oldest Major – to go from scheduled to cancelled.
Australian Golf Digest
