The Cactus Tour will carry on this week in Arizona, despite Governor Doug Ducey issuing a statewide “stay-at-home” order. That’s because Ducey’s “essential services and activities” list includes golf courses, right along with grocery stores and pharmacies.
Arizona is nearing 1,300 reported cases of coronavirus across all 15 counties. There have been 24 deaths, as of Tuesday morning.
“We do not want people to feel trapped or isolated in their homes,” Ducey said during his Monday address. “The weather is beautiful right now. Find a way to get out and enjoy it, with physical distancing.”
With that, Mike Brown’s mini-tour schedule rolls on, with this week’s stop at Sun City Country Club. The three-round event will be held March 31-April 2. Last week’s winner, Sarah Burnham, took home a roll of toilet tissue in addition to her trophy and $2,800 paycheck.
This week’s field has 19 players, including six amateurs. Haley Moore is the only LPGA player in the field. Players went off in twosomes.
Earlier in the month, there were Vegas odds on players like Anna Nordqvist and Amy Olson as some heavy-hitters came out to knock off the rust while the LPGA and the rest of the golf world is on an extended break.
Brown has always known that running a tour in the midst of a global pandemic would be controversial. If courses are open and players sign up, he says he’ll continue.
“I can take the heat, so the girls don’t get it,” he said.
