The Match raises $20,000,000 for COVID-19 relief with 2 weeks to go for PGA Tour

https://www.pgatour.com/news/2020/05/24/live-updates-scores-the-match-tiger-woods-phil-mickelson-tom-brady-peyton-manning-medalist-golf-club-coronavirus-covid-19-relief.html

Any time you put Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson together in a made for TV exhibition match, then throw in 2 American sports heroes, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and some celebrity commentators, you can be sure of a ratings bonanza, and that's exactly what they got for "The Match, Champions for Charity" at the Medalist in Florida.

An all time cable TV high rating for golf of 5.8 million was the result, to a sports world starved of some live action resulted in a massive $20,000,000 raised for the fight against COVID-19. It's peak at 6.3m was the highest rated show of the day.

That money raised was the best storyline of the day. The weather (rain) and the golf not so much. Tiger looked good, Phil looked rusty but provided some great shots and patter, while Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning, well let's just say they didn't have their A,or B games, however their status as Hall of Fame QB's was enough to attract the non golf audience.

For a full report on the match click on my link above. For the record Tiger and Peyton won by a hole.

There are now 2 weeks left to go before the PGA Tour plunges ahead with their plan to return to golf with no spectators for the Charles Schwab Challenge, Fort Worth Texas, at the Colonial GC, June 11.

This is apparently with the blessing of the leading medical authorities, commissioner Jay Monahan making it clear back in April they would not proceed without that confirmation.

While COVID-19 numbers are by far the worst in the USA, it is such a large country that the pandemic varies wildly from state to state and as such is being treated differently by respective governors.

Of the 1.6m cases in the USA, Texas has reported 56,000 with over 1500 deaths up until the Memorial weekend. They are averaging 1000-1200 new cases per day. The state has been slowly opening up bars and businesses at 25% capacity.

Rory McIlroy is the headliner, most international players not living in USA won't be attending due to 14 day isolation requirements. Complete health and safety regulations are in force for the event, caddies are allowed.

Recently the Bundisliga in Germany has resumed play in empty stadiums, as has Nascar. All other pro sports are still inactive worldwide with the exception of baseball and ladies golf in South Korea.

Bryan Angus