Coronavirus Leads to Spectator Ban At PGA's Valspar Championship

EDITOR'S NOTE: All events on the PGA tour have been canceled.

PALM HARBOR, FL — Golf fans will still be able to watch their favorite pros tee off. They'll just have to do it while sitting on their couches in front of a television.

While the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor will be played as scheduled March 16 to 22, spectators won't be allowed to attend the tournament due to the coronavirus outbreak.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan made the announcement Thursday at the Players Championship in Ponte Vedra, where fans are banned for the final three rounds of that tournament as well.

“I’ve spoken to President Trump this morning, and I spoke to Gov. Ron DeSantis a few hours ago as well," said Monahan. "Our team is in constant communication with local health authorities in each market in which our tournaments are played. Both the White House and the governor’s office have been and are supportive of the precautionary measures we have taken to this point."

Valspar Championship officials said they will refund individually purchased tickets.

"When you work on an event for a full year and are not able to share it with our fans, it hurts," said Tournament Director Tracy West. "We thank our title sponsor Valspar for their full support and look forward to a wonderful community event next year."

West added: "We are in the process of working through all the implications of this decision and will be issuing more guidance shortly."

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Founded in 1977, the tournament became an official PGA tour event in 2000. The only other time the tournament has been closed to spectators was following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

An estimated 85,000 spectators attend the tournament each year. A 2016 study by the University of South Florida estimated that the tournament has an annual economic impact on Tampa Bay of more than $51 million.

Valspar Tournament winners on the 71 par Copperhead Course include Paul Casey, Adam Hadwin, Carl Schwartzel, Jordan Spieth, John Senden, Kevin Streelman, Luke Donald, Gary Woodland, Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen, K.J. Choi, John Huston, Carl Pettersson, Mark Calcavecchia and Sean O'Hair.

Golf fans can view the tournament and get updates on the Golf Channel.

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