2021 British Open (Players Angry Over COVID Protocols)

[StuM]

Players angry, consider skipping Open Championship after R&A hands down strict COVID regulations

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Some are considering a boycott of the prestigious event and others are simply miffed by the regulations.

What do you think about the COVID Protocols at the 2021 Open Championship?

 

I'll get things started.  I voted "YES" they are going too far.  What is the point of telling players, coaches & caddies that have been living in close proximity for months and most have been vaccinated they cannot share accommodations?  And at the same time allowing @ 80% capacity for fans?  Do testing, etc. similar to the PGA Tour, it seems to have prevented any massive outbreaks for quite some time.  They also claim requirements are for Contact Tracing, if you know who is in the house, RV, etc. Contact Tracing should not be that hard.  By making them separate they may actually increase the number of people they come in contact with. 

Edited June 25, 2021 by StuM
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[iacas]

Some examples:

“I’m going to go because it’s the British Open. But I certainly thought about not going. I just can’t believe with the numerous examples of successfully run safely held tournaments and majors here that they can’t figure out a better situation,” the player said.

“If someone on your plane tests positive on way to the British and is sitting anywhere close to you, you’re out no questions asked, no matter if you’re vaccinated. It’s aggravating that they deem the tournament safe enough for 32,000 fans a day to attend, but won’t let a player’s wife, children travel and watch the tournament, nor will they even let players visit a restaurant without threat of disqualification.”

and

According to the note sent by the R&A to players, caddies and coaches, those on different player teams will not be allowed to stay together, which makes things difficult for many who travel in support of players.

“The up-to-four persons [regulation] within private rental accommodation must be included within the players’ own support group … For example, multiple players or multiple caddies are not permitted to share private self accommodation,” the R&A email read. “We recognise this is difficult for many that used to share during the championship but the Government’s strict contact tracing requirements mean that this will not be possible in 2021.

and

The potential for being ousted from the tournament has players angry, especially in light of the eased restrictions for patrons. The R&A recently announced that up to 32,000 fans will be able to attend each day at Royal St George’s — that’s 80 percent of the typical 40,000 spectators allowed on the site.

“They care more about the revenue of the fans buying beers than they do about the actual people participating in the tournament,” said the player who spoke with Golfweek. “Any fan can go to a grocery store or a restaurant and we can’t. Does that make sense? And I’m vaccinated. How does that make sense?”

So, I voted "yes."

[DaveP043]

There are a number of places in the article that references government requirements.  I took a quick look through Google, and see that the UK does still have significant restrictions on travelers, including proof of vaccination, testing, and quarantine in some situations.  Those restrictions are going to apply to anyone visiting the country for the tournament.  They are facing a surge in new cases, apparently associated with the Delta variant. 

Given all that, its hard to blame the R&A if they're following current government guidelines and restrictions.  And I honestly don't know whether the government policies are excessively restrictive, given the surge this spring from the Alpha variant, and the current surge from Delta.  I'm just barely on the side saying the restrictions aren't too far, given the current situation in the UK.

[boogielicious]

I don’t think they are following the science there. We have to rely on that. I voted yes. 

[mcanadiens]

One of the great frustrations of the pandemic is the inconsistencies in rules and restrictions that the various authorities (government or otherwise) put in place. Having the crowds at 80% at the same time as implementing some of these other rules certainly seems inconsistent.

As @DaveP043 points out, the situation in the UK is different from the situation here. I don't feel like I know enough about it to bash them too much.

Making the trip to The Open has always been something of a hassle for American golfers and the Covid just makes it more so. I wouldn't necessarily blame a player if he decided to stay home.

[Billy Z]

If the UK is that concerned, maybe they should just postpone this year's British Open. If the Delta variant is roaming around as they say it may be a good idea just to not have it. I don't see how the restrictions they speak of make it any safer.

[StuM]

34 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

There are a number of places in the article that references government requirements.  I took a quick look through Google, and see that the UK does still have significant restrictions on travelers, including proof of vaccination, testing, and quarantine in some situations.  Those restrictions are going to apply to anyone visiting the country for the tournament.  They are facing a surge in new cases, apparently associated with the Delta variant. 

I guess if it is Government requirements the R&A has little choice, but still seems excessive.

[DaveP043]

Just now, StuM said:

I guess if it is Government requirements the R&A has little choice, but still seems excessive.

And I don't know the details of either set of regulations, its possible that the R&A is going beyond the government requirements.  If that was the case, I'd really consider changing my vote.  Another factor, to me, is whether the requirements have been in place for a relatively long time, or if they're just recently released.  Its such a quickly changing landscape that the current regulations seem to have caught a lot of the "team members" unawares.

[David in FL]

Yep.  Ridiculous.

 

 

[ncates00]

@StuM and @DaveP043 pretty much have it covered: if the R&A are simply following government regulations, then there’s nothing they can do. If, however, they are exceeding the floor of government regulations, then that’s different. 

[Vinsk]

17 minutes ago, ncates00 said:

@StuM and @DaveP043 pretty much have it covered: if the R&A are simply following government regulations, then there’s nothing they can do. If, however, they are exceeding the floor of government regulations, then that’s different. 

It seems odd they would be following government regulations when they’re so contradicting regarding the players/participants and the fans. 

[DaveP043]

Just now, Vinsk said:

It seems odd they would be following government regulations when they’re so contradicting regarding the players/participants and the fans. 

Only a guess, but I bet that the bulk of the fans who will attend are living in the UK already, and the rest will be subject to testing and/or quarantine requirements.  The bulk of the participants and their teams will be coming from all over the world, so their requirements might be modifications of the existing requirements for recent arrivals.  Again, this is conjecture on my part.

[ChetlovesMer]

14 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

It seems odd they would be following government regulations when they’re so contradicting regarding the players/participants and the fans. 

Ding! 

Follow the money. 

[iacas]

28 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

Only a guess, but I bet that the bulk of the fans who will attend are living in the UK already, and the rest will be subject to testing and/or quarantine requirements.  The bulk of the participants and their teams will be coming from all over the world, so their requirements might be modifications of the existing requirements for recent arrivals.  Again, this is conjecture on my part.

Sure, but the week before, players can do a LOT more together - live in the same hotels/houses, eat meals together, ride in the same cars, etc. - but then they show up (possibly after driving together to get to the UKBOPBHMTQ) and then have to split up into separate hotel rooms without going out to get groceries, even if fully vaccinated?

This feels like a stretch. Trust the science.

[Shorty]

FWIW, I live in Australia and my mother, in her 90s, lives in the UK. I am not allowed to visit the UK. This is not a golf issue, it is a government/health issue.

4 hours ago, David in FL said:

Yep.  Ridiculous.

 

 

Anything that's designed to mitigate the spread of a deadly virus is "ridiculous" in your eyes. I bet you think your "freedom" is being compromised.

[nevets88]

3 hours ago, iacas said:

UKBOPBHMTQ

This is a NLU acronym right? What does it stand for again?

[Darkfrog]

9 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

This is a NLU acronym right? What does it stand for again?

UK British Open presented by her majesty the queen?

[nevets88]

42 minutes ago, Darkfrog said:

UK British Open presented by her majesty the queen?

Thanks! God save the queen.