JOHN DEERE CLASSIC Tournament Director Clair Peterson (L) 2019 John Deere Classic Champion Dylan Frittelli with the trophy last July at TPC Deere Run.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, or Facebook and LinkedIn. At the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run.
NO, NOT ANOTHER award from the PGA Tour for Social Engagement.
First with the fans, Yes. But there is a whole new meaning to being first with the fans this year.
As of today, the PGA Tour plans to start it’s first tour event, the Charles Schwab Challenge, formerly known as Colonial, the second week of June.
The first four events, that also include the RBC Heritage Classic on Hilton Head in Myrtle Beach SC., the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn, and the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, are expected to be played without fans.
For now, and at least for today, the John Deere Classic is next up on the tee box from July 6-12 at TPC Deere Run. The JDC as of now, is first in line to be played with fans in the stands, or at least along the fairways of TPC Deere Run in Silvis Illinois.
During an interview this morning with JDC Classic Tournament Director Clair Peterson, conducted by Writer and Golf Editor Tom Johnston of the Dispatch-Argus-QCOnline/ Quad-City Times, Peterson made the following comments.
Welcome to the home of John Deere.
“We’re all being nimble, fluid, accepting and adjusting,” said Peterson. “There are still a lot of moving part’s to the process of resuming major sports among the Covid-19 Pandemic.”
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan did say the first four tournaments will be closed to the general public. But how tournaments after that are staged still remains to be determined.
The John Deere Classic is aware that Illinois state guidelines do have to be followed. Which brings Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) into the equation, and that could be the monkey-wrench that blows up the plan in having fans.
“These things are fluid,” said Peterson. “Decisions are being made and amended as the medical situation dictates. Whether or not (Governor Prtizker) saying something in April is still going be in place in July is kind of a hard question to have any level of confidence in. The whole country could be dealing with it in July, we just don’t know.”
Peterson and the JDC’s board of directors have to have several plans in place for what is turning out to be quite a 50th Anniversary for the tournament. Options will be discussed at tonight’s board meeting.
“It’s still a moving target,” said Peterson, ‘but we are happy to still be on the schedule for 2020.”
Golfers on Golf, sends a special thanks to Tom Johnston of the Dispatch-Argus-QCOnline/ Quad City-Times, for sharing his story and interview with Clair Peterson.