VIRGINIA WATER, England — DP World Tour officials, following advice in accordance with Official National Mourning Guidance from the British government’s department of Digital Culture, Media and Sport in the wake of Thursday’s death of Queen Elizabeth II, announced that they will restart the BMW PGA Championship on Saturday.
In a statement released on Friday, the tour said that “the Wentworth event will give players, caddies, staff, volunteers and spectators the opportunity to come together across the weekend, not only to express their condolences but also to celebrate the extraordinary life of Her Majesty.”
The championship will now only be 54 holes. Tommy Fleetwood, Andy Sullivan and Viktor Hovland share the lead after shooting eight-under-par 64.
“There is no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during the National Mourning period,” the official announcement said. “This is at the discretion of individual organizations. As a mark of respect, organizations might wish to consider cancelling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the State Funeral. They are under no obligation to do so, and this is entirely at the discretion of individual organizations.
“If sporting fixtures or events are planned for the day of the State Funeral, organizations may want to adjust the event timings so they do not clash with the timings of the funeral service and associated processions. As a mark of respect, and in keeping with the tone of National Mourning, organizers may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem at the start of events or fixtures, and players may wish to wear black armbands.”
In his own statement, DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley laid out plans that will see the completion of the biggest tournament on the Old World circuit.
“The Rolex Series event will now be contested over 54 holes with the intention to finish on Sunday as scheduled,” Pelley said. “It is not possible to play the full 72 holes and finish on Monday as we cannot guarantee the staff, facilities or security of the venue on Monday due to the ongoing plans for the state funeral.
“Across the weekend at Wentworth, black ribbons will be made available for people to wear and flags will continue to fly at half-mast,” he said. “In addition, there will be a two-minute silence at 9:50 a.m. on Saturday morning across the venue to commemorate the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with the proclamation of King Charles III being shown on the television screens in the Championship Village from 10 a.m.”
The decision to play on runs contrary to that of the soccer leagues in both England and Scotland, where all professional games scheduled for Saturday have been postponed. In contrast, however, the men’s cricket test match between England and South Africa at The Oval in London and the women’s IT20 match between England and India in County Durham, Premiership Rugby Union, Rugby League and the Great North Run in the north east of England will all take place.
Original article by John Huggan on GolfDigest
