The Possible Future of Tours and Rankings

COVID-19 has interrupted all sports activities for now, but activities will in the end begin once more. The question is, how lengthy will or not it's before golfing resumes? And how will the delay affect international scores?

Today I'm linking to some articles that cope with the ones very matters.

Here's a GC article by Will Gray looking at how this interruption will affect the Official World Golf Rankings (aka the OWGR). The article talks about how the Top10 of the OWGR might shape up in the April 13 version -- assuming nothing changes in the meantime. Rory McIlroy would still be #1 if the OWGR continues on its present course.

What might change? Gray says the powers-that-be are considering a freeze to the rankings. According to a golf.com article, "a spokesperson from the OWGR said simply, 'All these matters are under discussion.'"

Why is it important? One word: Olympics. Assuming the Olympics can go on as planned, the golf participants will be chosen based on the OWGR (and Rolex Rankings for the ladies). And you can bet that both organizations will be seriously considering their options because, as old events drop off the back end of the rankings without new events to take their place, the rankings could play havoc with the current expectations of the players.

While the rankings might additionally have an effect on entries into the numerous majors and WGCs, you need to believe that the Olympics are first and predominant inside the minds of the ranking businesses.

I additionally need to link to a GC article listing, as of Monday, the subsequent expected occasions on each of the sector excursions. At this point maximum of the sector's tours anticipate to get returned in movement sometime in April or May, however I located two great exceptions:

• PGA Tour of Australasia: NT PGA Championship, Palmerston Golf Course, Palmerston, Australia, Aug. 20-23
• Japan LPGA: AXA Ladies Golf Tournament, UMK Country Club, Miyazaki, Japan, March 27-29

It's the JLPGA that surprises me most. Despite being right next door to China, where this virus first made itself known, they currently plan to play an event next week! I really have trouble believing that won't change soon, but it's interesting that it hasn't been changed already.

Given the 'fluid nature' of the COVID-19 pandemic, these appear to be the most unstable elements of the golfing landscape in the immediately destiny. And the arena ratings strike me because the most crucial of the two, as they might critical adjust the fields of events once they eventually begin again. After all, unlike the tournaments so one can find their alternatives largely dictated by health issues and travel regulations, the rankings are actually calculations in a pc, unaffected via COVID-19.

Unless it finds a manner to jump from human beings to computers, this is.