CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Thursday, May 7, 2020 | 19 SPORTS
GOLF MOTOR SPORTS NASCAR revving up for racing return without spectators
By MURRAY GREIG sure that was in place.” [email protected] Financial factors were no doubt a major consideration, too. NASCAR has given the green light Teams across NASCAR’s top three to restarting its season on May 17, series were struggling to match with an ambitious plan to run four sponsor revenue with costs before Cup Series races and seven races in the COVID19 pandemic brought 11 days at Darlington Raceway in racing to a halt in midMarch. With South Carolina and Charlotte Motor no events and sponsor revenues Speedway in North Carolina. depleted, several teams started cut “We have a lot of confidence in ting pay for employees. our plan,” NASCAR vicepresident The midMay restart gives NAS John Bobo said this week. “We know CAR the opportunity to run each of we have to work together as an the races that it had on its Cup, Xfin industry to keep our own folks safe, ity and Truck Series schedules at the to keep each community safe. But beginning of the year and fulfill its that’s the discipline and the safety TV contracts — a primary source of culture of NASCAR. revenue. “We’re the organization that puts NASCAR is trying to get back to cars on the track four days a week at racing while also waiting to see 200 miles an hour. We think it’s that what happens. If it goes off without same discipline and eye towards a major hitch, every race will be Dustin Johnson (left) and Rory McIlroy, pictured at the 2018 Ryder Cup in France, headline a $3 million charity match for COVID19 relief safety that everybody in our indus completed and the condensed on May 17 that will mark the return of live golf to television. AP try has that is going to help us exe schedule will serve as a huge hook cute on this.” for TV viewership. There won’t be any fans in attend “We feel like we have a schedule ance at any of the seven races. Teams mapped out for all three series that will be spread out throughout the gets us through the season finales,” garages and infield lots and every Bobo said. “We feel like it’s pretty Greens are go with TV teeoff one will be wearing masks and will well baked. We feel like we’ve had have their temperatures checked. the right cadence with where states Live golf set for comeback with charity event featuring McIlroy and Johnson “We’re not an ‘indoor’ or ‘outdoor’ are, where health officials may be. sport in the traditional sense; we Certainly we have backups to back have drivers with helmets, and they ups to backups. By MURRAY GREIG Organizers said strict safety Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, are in racecars,” said Bobo. “There “I would say we started with murraygreig @chinadaily.com.cn measures will be enforced, includ Texas, with the first four events of are some unique things about our about seven pencils and a lot of eras ing no spectators and rigid testing We are excited about the revised slate to be played with sport that we feel provided us the ers and have moved to a pen now in Leave it to the PGA to lead the procedures to ensure the health out spectators. opportunity to get back if we could, terms of saying to our broadcast charge back to normalcy for tele and safety of the golfers and pro the safe and Meanwhile, threetime Masters to where we knew we were going to partners and tracks that this is what vised pro sports — with the added duction crew. responsible return of champion Nick Faldo of Britain be safe. That was first and foremost. we believe we can collectively do. bonus of a huge helping hand for In a sign of the times, NBC golf thinks that banning tees from pro “If we didn’t feel like we had the “But until we are racing and until charity. anchor Mike Tirico will quarter live golf and the tournaments would make them support of the local community, we see how things take place, until On Monday it was announced back the remote commentary from opportunity to raise more competitive. health officials, the state, you we see how this virus affects things that world No 1 Rory McIlroy of his home in Michigan, while ana “If they banned tees, if they went wouldn’t see us racing until Novem down the road, we can’t say for Northern Ireland will team up with lysts Paul Azinger and Rich Lerner significant funds for and played a tournament with no ber. That was a key for us to make sure.” Dustin Johnson of the US to take will join him from an offsite pro those on the front tees, the guys would have to go out on Rickie Fowler and Matthew duction facility. and alter their drivers,” Faldo said Wolff of the US in a May 17 skins McIlroy and Johnson, with 38 lines of the COVID19 on Geoff Shackelford’s weekend game that will be televised live PGA Tour wins between them, fig pandemic.” podcast, via Golf Digest. worldwide. ure to be the betting favorites “They’d say, ‘Alright, you’re The TaylorMade Driving Relief against Fowler, a fivetime PGA Jay Monahan, allowed to place it on the grass.’ You PGA Tour commissioner shootout will feature a $3 million Tour winner, and Wolff, the wouldn’t be using a driver that’s six purse — all of which will go to the 20yearold NCAA champion who, degrees. You’d need to use one that American Nurses Foundation and in just his third PGA Tour start as a our sport and to do it with Matthew can get the ball airborne a bit. And Center for Disease Control Founda pro, won the 2019 3M Open last as my partner. I know how much I that would seriously change the tion to aid in their efforts during July. have missed sports — and golf espe game. the COVID19 pandemic. “It’s been difficult to witness cially — so to be one of the first “Sure, they could hit a 3wood. Farmers Insurance is donating an what so many are enduring over events returning to television is And that would be their optimum. additional $1 million for a birdie and the last several weeks due to the very exciting.” They could hit 3wood off the eagle pool to be given to Off Their COVID19 pandemic, so I’m excited The TaylorMade event follows ground and Rory McIlroy would still Plate, an organization that provides and thankful to TaylorMade and last week’s confirmation of The hit it 285 yards in the air. But it’d be meals to healthcare workers. United Health Group for making Match: Champions for Charity, tough to hit a driver off the deck. NBC, Golf Channel, NBCSN and this event possible and providing which will pit Tiger Woods and “I think that’s what we have to Sky Sports will televise the 18hole us with the opportunity to show Peyton Manning against Phil Mick get out there. It’s about the quality match. Free streaming will be avail our support of those on the front elson and Tom Brady. TNT has of the strike. And that would bring able on PGA Tour Live, GOLFTV, lines,” McIroy said, adding: “Dustin been announced as the broadcast in a little more inconsistency.” Golfpass and Golf Channel. and I will have a lot of fun together, partner, but a date and venue have According to Faldo, players “We are excited about the safe and our games will fit well.” not been identified. would need a new type of driver and responsible return of live golf Fowler is likewise fired up for the The PGA Tour hasn’t staged any that could lift the ball higher if they and the opportunity to raise signifi challenge, saying: “When I heard competitions since halting play on were not using a tee. cant funds for those on the front about this event, I couldn’t get March 12 after the first round of the “It would go a long way toward Amid the coronavirus shutdown, motor sports fans have had to suf lines of the COVID19 pandemic,” involved fast enough. It’s special to Players Championship. Official solving the distance problem and fice with virtual action such as the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invita PGA Tour commissioner Jay Mona be able to have an impact and raise tournament play is slated to making the pro game a lot more tional Series (pictured). Real NASCAR racing is slated to return on han said in a statement. charitable contributions through resume on June 11 at the Charles competitive,” he said. May 17, without spectators, at tracks in North and South Carolina. AFP