NBA | Page 3 FORMULA 1 | Page 4 Heat legend Williams, Racing Wade stresses Point furlough unity amid staff as drivers pandemic take pay cut Tuesday, April 7, 2020 TENNIS Sha’ban 14, 1441 AH Jabeur mulls GULF TIMES swapping rackets for dancing shoes SPORT Page 5 FOCUS Golf majors reset: PGA in August, US Open September, The British Open has been cancelled for the first time since Masters November World War II, postponed until 2021 AFP New York, United States US Outlaw Tour gives golfers events Masters among the fall despite coronavirus leaves, the US Open and Ryder Cup on back-to- AFP 49-year-old Alex Cejka, who closed with a 4-under par 68 to back weeks and the PGA Los Angeles, United States won the 2015 PGA Puerto Rico finish on 15-under 201 for a one- A Open and four European Tour stroke victory over American Championship in its former spot are on tap in golf’s 2020 corona- titles from 1995-2002. His best Chris Korte. virus rescheduling plan. here are desert rain finish in 23 major starts was But the big shocker came when Moments after the 149th Open downpours and tee box fourth at the 2003 PGA Cham- 14 players were disqualified for Championship was postponed Tconfusion with top prizes pionship. playing off the wrong tee after until 2021, golf’s major tourna- of only $4,500 (4,167 euros), Thomas Lehman and amateur a tee-box mix-up on a par-3 ment organizers and tours issued but golf’s Outlaw Tour is play- Sean Lehman, sons of 1996 hole in the first round. a joint statement announcing a ing through in Arizona despite British Open champion and The tee was set up at 204 yards revamped lineup of dates as a re- the coronavirus pandemic. former world number one Tom while scorecards showed the sult of postponements due to the The four-year-old men’s Lehman, are also in the field. hole at 222 yards. The first global Covid-19 pandemic. developmental circuit typically “I think it’s a really safe thing group to reach the hole played The British Open has been attracts players in their 20s for to do,” 61-year-old Lehman told off the wrong tee and others cancelled for the first time since 54-hole mid-week events with the PGA Tour website. followed before the mistake World War II due to the corona- entry fees of $775-$875 and “Golf kind of has a built-in, was caught. virus. is set to play four final season social-distancing concept. Three weeks ago at the West- The 149th Open was scheduled events in April. You don’t get inside the other ern Skies Classic in Gilbert, a to take place at Royal St George’s With almost every other sports player’s space. You can play a heavy rain softened the course Golf Club in Kent in July. league in the United States and round of golf with people and for Thursday’s final round, But with the pandemic ripping worldwide shut down amid you don’t get up close and when Canadian Jared du Toit the 2020 sporting schedule to safety precautions for the personal.” fired a bogey-free 59, making shreds, the event has became the deadly Covid-19 virus, the Out- Flagsticks stay in holes and no an eagle and nine birdies in the first of the sport’s four majors to law Tour keeps going thanks rakes are provided for bunkers. lowest round in Outlaw Tour be cancelled this year. to golf courses being declared There are no handshakes or wa- history. Golf’s oldest major will now an “essential business” in the ter coolers and players walking “I didn’t think about it too much be hosted at the same Sandwich state. the course keep their distance until late,” du Toit said. “I had a venue in July 2021. After two events since the PGA from others to maintain social good look on 17. I was mad at The PGA Championship, Tour halted play, the Outlaw distancing guidelines. the time, it didn’t go in, because which had been postponed from Tour will stage the Orange I would have loved to have May, was rescheduled for August Tree Classic at Scottsdale, DU TOIT 59, DQ 14 been able to par 18. 6-9 to remain at Harding Park in Arizona, starting Tuesday with At last week’s Verrado Found- “I got away with my tee shot. San Francisco. an 80-player field over a 6,739- ers Championship, Scotland’s It finished close to the cart The US Open was rescheduled yard layout. Calum Hill, a 136th-ranked path. Had 105 yards in and hit a from June to September 17-20 In this July 20, 2019, picture, the scoreboard is updated during the third round of the British Open Golf The lineup features Germany’s European Tour newcomer, wedge to 6-7 feet and made it.” with the Ryder Cup to be con- Championships at Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland. (AFP) tested one week later at Whis- tling Straits as scheduled. conditions for players and spec- health and well-being of every- “We look forward to the in close contact with local, state outbreak, will be better in late tive Seth Waugh said his major, The Masters, which was to tators in the wake of the deadly one within the game of golf and championship returning in full and national health authorities to September. now set to be the first of the year, have been played this week virus outbreak. beyond, above all else,” the state- strength next spring,” Ridley help inform our decisions.” “We are hopeful that postpon- should help in the global recovery among the blooming spring flow- The US PGA Tour rebooked its ment said. said. The Augusta National Wom- ing the championship will offer from isolating measures to safe- ers at Augusta National, has been regular-season finale, the Wynd- The same field of players that en’s Amateur, an event that began us the opportunity to mitigate guard people from the virus. rescheduled for November 12-15. ham Championship, for August BACK-TO-BACK MASTERS would have competed this week last year, was cancelled for 2020 health and safety issues while “Sports, and particularly the It was postponed on March 13. 13-16 with the season-ending The Masters will be played, at the Masters will be used for the but each woman who accepted still providing us with the best game of golf, are important ve- “We hope the anticipation of tour playoffs to follow over the health conditions permitting, November date, which comes only an invitation to the event will be opportunity to conduct the US hicles for healing and hope,” staging the Masters Tournament next three weeks, concluding outside of April for the first time a few weeks after the course reo- invited to compete in 2021, pro- Open this year,” US Golf Associa- Waugh said. in the fall brings a moment of with the Tour Championship in in the event’s history, which be- pens following summer closure. vided she remains an amateur. tion chief executive Mike Davis “We will continue to follow joy to the Augusta community Atlanta on September 4-7. gan in 1934. “We want to emphasise that said. the guidance of public health and all those who love the sport,” “We want to reiterate that Another Masters will be our future plans are incumbent GIVING ‘HEALING, HOPE’ “We are incredibly thankful officials, but are hopeful that it Augusta National chairman Fred Augusta National Golf Club, scheduled in its usual date for upon favorable counsel and di- The US Open moved back more to the membership and staff at will be safe and responsible to Ridley said. European Tour, LPGA, PGA of April 2021, making the Augusta rection from health officials,” Ri- than three months in hopes con- Winged Foot for their flexibility conduct the PGA Championship Organizers emphasized that America, PGA Tour, The R&A National classic the last major of dley said. ditions in the New York area, the and support.” in August and the Ryder Cup as the new dates depend upon safe and USGA collectively value the 2020 and the first of 2021. “As such, we continue to keep epicentre of the US pandemic PGA of America chief execu- planned.” FOOTBALL FIFA urges clubs and players to reach agreement over wages: sources AFP ing Barcelona, have also cut play- said: “With the current suspen- it resumes. terparts, had been criticised for Lausanne, Switzerland er wages. sion of play in most countries, it not agreeing a pay cut, six-time FIFA is also recommending is now obvious that the current ‘POSITIVE IMPACT’ Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi that players’ contracts be ex- season will not end when people Individual agreements must still announced last week that the IFA yesterday urged clubs tended until the end of the inter- thought it would. Therefore, it is be signed between the clubs and squad had agreed to a 70 percent and players to reach agree- rupted football seasons and that proposed that contracts be ex- players, who will waive between pay reduction as the club faces a ment on wage reductions the transfer window does not tended until such time that the two and four months’ salary. loss of revenue. to protect clubs suffering open until that time. season does actually end.” The decision was reached “We clearly won’t manage to F earn what we had been expect- financial damage due to the coro- The source said the health “A similar principle applies for unanimously by Serie A clubs, navirus crisis, sources said.