Harold Varner III is one of many players preparing for next week’s Charles Schwab Invitational, the first PGA Tour event since the coronavirus pandemic took hold.
But while he’s excited for the normalcy of a workweek, Varner understands that a number of contributing factors could make the first few weeks an intense and interesting experience.
Players have been cooped up at home due to the pandemic. Players will be staying at the same hotel and chartering the same plane between tournaments. And players will be looking to discuss the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, especially with Varner, who is one of the few African-American players on Tour.
Varner spoke with Damon Hack on Golf Channel on Wednesday, and said he expects frank and candid conversations.
“We’re going to be the first sport to really get back going and … we’ll be spending a lot more time than we usually spend together,” Varner said. “There’s going to be conversations like this. You know, the most amazing thing about life is that there can be a lot of good, even though it’s not on social media, it’s not on this camera. There’s going to be conversations.”
In fact, Varner, who stands 88th in the FedExCup standings, said the exchanges have already begun.
“I talked to Billy Horschel about it this morning,” Varner said. “All this bad stuff that’s happening, and you know this evil stuff, there’s going to be some good that comes from it. I mean, I literally was playing golf this morning and I’m already talking to Billy about it after nine holes.”
Varner came out with a lengthy tweet on Monday, marking one of the first comments from anyone in the golf world.
“I think it’s also important to take your time and get it right,” Varner said of his comments. “Know that what you’re doing is right. I believe in the good of America but right now there’s just things that are happening that just … they suck, honestly. It’s just hard to fathom 2020 like this. I’ve never been through anything like this in my life.”
Varner — who was born in Akron, Ohio, and then grew up in Gastonia, North Carolina, before attending East Carolina University — was asked by Hack about those who say athletes shouldn’t speak their mind on social issues.
“I think as an athlete you play a huge role but the biggest role you play as a human is knowing what’s right and wrong, and how much wrong we saw,” Varner said. “I’m going to fight the good fight and I think it was time to say something because I’ve always had an opinion on something. I always have, and probably always will, but the people who think that we shouldn’t say anything, that’s their opinion. I want to do what I can for the betterment of this world — that’s my job as a human, as a person in society. I’m going to speak up.”
