American golfer Billy Horschel is hoping spectators will be allowed to attend this year’s Masters after rumours surfaced that the Major might be played behind closed doors.
The former FedEx Cup champion has admitted that he is aware of speculation that the Masters organisers could consider staging the event without fans present as a result of the rapid increase of coronavirus cases.
The virus has had a significant impact on sports events across the world, with matches or events either postponed or forced to be played behind closed doors.
Horschel, though, believes it would be an extraordinary occurrence to compete at the Masters without spectators.
‘People were saying the Masters might not have patrons this year. That was a rumour the last couple of days with the players. That would be unbelievable to play Augusta with no patrons,’ said Horschel, following his T36 finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday.
Arguably the most popular event on the golfing calendar, the Masters annually attracts a significant number of spectators from all over the world, who will be visiting the city of Georgia the week of 6 April.
The European Tour has already been forced to postpone the Kenya Open, which was due to take place this coming weekend, while the Asian Tour’s Bangabandhu Cup Golf in Dhaka, Bangladesh has been forced to do the same as a precaution.
