Indian golfers back PGA’s decision to suspend PGA Tour
The latest announcement from the PGA will see the Tour stay suspended until May 17.
The PGA Tour, last week, joined the list of major sporting events to suspend its activities for the foreseeable future following the COVID-19 pandemic. This move was welcomed by Indian golfers Anirban Lahiri and Arjun Atwal.
While the initial announcement would have seen the Tour resume with the Augusta Masters on April 9, with the Masters’ organisers announcing the postponement of the first Major of the year, the PGA has gone ahead and extended the suspension period till May 17.
The latest announcement will see five more events pushed to a further date. These include the RBC Heritage (April 13-19); Zurich Classic of New Orleans (April 20-26); Wells Fargo Championship (April 27-May 3), AT&T Byron Nelson (May 4-10) and the PGA Championships (May14-17).
Being out of action for about two months might not be what an athlete would want, but the golfers have taken to the news in a positive way.
“It is a tough call but I am sure all the players support it. It is a difficult time for all of us and I am sure the Tour and the Commissioner will take a call, which is in the best interest of all of us,” said Arjun Atwal, the only Indian to win a PGA Tour title.
Arjun Atwal, who won the Wyndham Championship in 2010, and Anirban Lahiri find themselves in a difficult position to make the cut for Tokyo 2020 and will have to rely on doing well in the handful events before the cut off date of June 22.
However, Anirban Lahiri, who represented India at the 2016 Rio Olympics, took to Instagram and chose to look at the bright side of the development.
“The loves of my life: the “Game“ and the game changer. Down time = family time. Stay healthy and safe in these challenging times everyone,” the Indian said on a post that had his daughter with a golf club.
The 32-year-old Anirban Lahiri has competed in 12 events in the season, making the cut in five of them. His best performance, so far in the Olympic year, came at the Puerto Rico Open in February where he managed to finish tied-44.
Arjun Atwal, meanwhile, has competed in eight competitions, making the cut in just two of them. The Bermuda Championships last week saw the Indian golfer at his best with a T-41 finish.