With the nation in shock and the title sponsor of its World Golf Championship
decimated by the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, the PGA Tour canceled
all four of its tournaments today.
It was the first time in 52 years that players were sent home without hitting
a shot.
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said the decision was made out of respect
for the victims, and not many players disagreed with it.
``It's a good decision,'' Ernie Els said as he left Bellerive Country Club.
``This was the worst disaster ever. We can't go play a $5 million event.''
The American Express Championship, which brought together Tiger Woods and top
players from every tour in the world, originally was rescheduled to begin Friday
with 36 holes, followed by 18-hole rounds on Saturday and Sunday.
American Express headquaters are about four blocks away from the bottom of
the World Trade Center. There have been no reports of their losses, but tour officials
said it played a large part in the decision to cancel.
``We sat here in St. Louis on a beautiful day. The American Express people
were feeling this thing in quite a different way than what we were,'' said Michael
Bodney, senior vice president of international affairs for the PGA Tour.
``In trying to understand their situation from the standpoint of their loss
of life and decimation that has occurred, obviously that had a huge impact on
the way in which we proceeded throughout the week.''
Also canceled were the Tampa Bay Classic, the Buy.com Tour event in Oregon
and the Senior Tour event in North Carolina.
``I think it was the right thing,'' David Duval said. ``I don't think the worst
has happened yet -- maybe not more terror, but when they start pulling victims
out of the rubble, and there are funerals taking place, some of them for police
and firefighters who were trying to save lives ... and we're going to be out golfing?
I don't think that's right.''
The LPGA Tour said it would proceed with its 54-hole tournament in Portland.
Commissioner Ty Votaw said it was following President Bush's lead ``to start to
get our country back to normal so the healing can begin.''
If a national day of mourning is ordered, Votaw said the Safeway Classic would
be reduced to a 36-hole event.
The last time a PGA Tour event was wiped off the schedule was in 1949, when
heavy rains forced cancellation of the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas.
``I don't think anyone is upset,'' U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen said. ``The
attention at the moment was somewhere else.''
It was unclear how the cancellations would affect the Ryder Cup, to be played
Sept. 28-30 at The Belfry in England. European tour officials said it is still
being discussed.
The next step for the players was finding a way home.
Woods already had left the course before Finchem notified the players. Eighteen
players in the 67-man field never made it to St. Louis, stranded when air traffic
was shut down Tuesday morning after the attacks.
The tour considered letting the players drive their courtesy cars home.
Nick Price, Mark McNulty and Dudley Hart drove rental cars from Alabama late
Tuesday, while Scott Hoch made it as far as Nashville and drove the rest of the
way.
``I feel sorry for the people,'' said Price, who won the 1992 PGA Championship
at Bellerive, the last time St. Louis saw the world's best players. ``But I don't
think golf was on anyone's mind. I think everyone would rather be home with their
families.''
Financial matters remained unclear, from ticket refunds to money from the television
contract. Goosen and Joe Durant said there was talk about donating the $5 million
purse to the victims.
Hoch was finishing off a practice round when the tournament was called off.
Earlier Wednesday, he said he was torn about whether it should be played.
``We would play with heavier hearts than normal,'' Hoch said.
For several players in the field, the American Express was their only chance
to play for a $5 million purse, with $1 million going to the winner. Aaron Baddeleyqualified as a top money-winner in Australia, Dean Wilson from Japan, Roger Wessels
from South Africa.
``You come here with great expectations and a great opportunity,'' Durant said.
``Maybe we get too wrapped in that. Just living should be a No. 1 priority. These
are sad times for all of us.''
Sunshine bathed the tree-lined course Wednesday as fans quietly headed for
the exit.
Dave Stevens, who lives about 30 minutes away in St. Charles, had sweat stains
on his shirt from walking around a course that was eerily silent. Fans who sat
in the bleachers often waited nearly an hour for players to come through because
so many spent their time on the range or in the clubhouse watching television.
``Given the circumstances, I don't think these guys could play to their abilities,''
Stevens said. ``No one was smiling. It didn't look like they were having fun.
I'm disappointed, but I know they'll be back.''
