The "Reimagined" 2021 Honda Classic will be like none other in the 50 years of the tournament.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the crowds will be limited and those in attendance will be asked to follow strict guidelines and protocols.
“We are looking forward to a phenomenal tournament,” executive director Ken Kennerly said Monday, while reiterating, “safety is our first priority.”
Honda was the second to last tournament completed a year ago before the sports world shut down because of the emerging pandemic. The staff has worked toward hosting a successful, safe event ever since.
“We’ve worked tirelessly on rolling out what will be an extremely successful 2021 Honda Classic compete with COVID protocols,” Kennerly said.
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The tournament starts March 18 at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, but players will start arriving at the facility Monday. Practice rounds and Pro-Ams will be held as usual, the difference being no spectators are allowed until Thursday’s first round.
Honda submitted several proposals to the PGA Tour before settling on allowing 10,000 fans per day, which will be about 20 percent of usual capacity. Before this week’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, the most fans on the grounds of an event was 5,000. The Players also has settled on 20 percent.
“We believe we can do this safely,” Kennerly said.
Bay Hill had the option of admitting 10,000 per day for the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend, but it settled on 5,000.
“It’s been a year of challenge, a year of change,” said Honda tournament director Andrew George. “The collaboration has been never ending.”
Although grounds tickets for $60 per day remain, the tournament is expecting each day to sell out. Tickets only can be purchased at thehondaclassic.com. All transactions, including concessions and merchandise, are cashless.
All the typical protocols will be in place, including a mandatory mask mandate when not eating or drinking, no eating within 10 feet of the ropes and social distancing on the more than 200 acres of property.
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Additionally, all patrons are required to submit to a daily questionnaire and screening.
And fans will be closely monitored. A Health and Safety Committee comprised of about 100 volunteers will be roaming the course along with security and law enforcement to assist in policy enforcement and spectator education. “Our eyes and ears,” George said.
The Health and Safety Committee will have access to report any uncooperative or unruly fans to the Palm Beach Gardens police.
“It’s a layered plan,” George said. “The volunteer committee will be marching the grounds and making sure we’re covering the entire 200 acres.”
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said Tuesday he's been encouraged by the number of fans he's seen wearing masks.
"You do the absolute best that you can," Monahan said about enforcing the mask-wearing mandate. "We're now five events into the return to fans, and we're working closely with each one of our tournament organizations. We continue to stress the importance of it.
"We want everyone to be wearing masks, and we're going to continue to reinforce that, I like the actual progression that we've been on."
The Link LonkMarch 09, 2021 at 11:15PM
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Honda Classic will have 'eyes and ears' on course to report protocol violators to authorities - Palm Beach Post
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