Nearly half the field will already be out on the Colonial Country Club course Thursday morning at the Charles Schwab Challenge when, for a brief minute, action will stop.

The soothing sounds of a club striking a ball, or a ball dropping into a hole, will fall silent.

As part of ongoing efforts to amplify the voices and efforts underway to end racial and social injustice, the PGA TOUR has set aside an 8:46 a.m. tee time that will feature no players. The time has been set aside here in Fort Worth and also at TPC Sawgrass, which hosts the Korn Ferry Tour Challenge, as 8:46 has become a universal symbol for the racial injustice faced by the black community.

“A great word that I’ve sort of been thinking of over the last couple of weeks is tolerance,” Rory McIlroy said Wednesday.

“I think everyone can just be a little more tolerant, and a little more educated and not as ignorant. Nowadays, and going back into history, there has never been a place in society for what has gone on in the world over the past however many hundreds of years.

“The fact that it does seem to be this real will to change and have reform is amazing,” the r eigning FedExCup champion continued. “It’s been a great thing to see, and I hope it continues to be in the conversation. As we move forward, I think people have learned a lot over the last few weeks, and hopefully we’ll see things change as time goes on.”

George Floyd died at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25, touching off worldwide protests. On June 1, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan addressed the issue through a letter to employees, players and tournaments, and later sat for a conversation with Harold Varner III to further discuss the TOUR’s potential role in the national conversation and solution.

Monahan has also shared his thoughts on current events with several national media outlets, saying that while the TOUR doesn’t have all the answers, the organization is going to listen, learn, “demand better” and expects to be held accountable for making a commitment to the solution.

“I think there will be discussion, and I think some people will forget about it. I think so many people will move on, but the conversation I had with Jay when we weren’t being recorded, I think this week won’t be the last,” Varner said.

“So yes, they’re pressured, but I also think it’s the right thing to do, and I think Jay knows that, so I’m super behind him on that. We got to talking about something where I come from, what I think about it.

“I’m just super fortunate to be able to say something and it matter but also be part of the change. Everyone in this society right now is going to be part of that.”

The TOUR’s Inclusion Leadership Council has been an integral part of the organization’s efforts, as has CORE, the TOUR’s multicultural employee resource group dedicated to diversity of thought and cultural change. Additionally, the TOUR is developing a plan to rally around a long-term, focused commitment to address racial justice issues, the details of which will be shared in the weeks to come.

For now, however, players and officials are simply excited to pay their own special tribute to the inspiring events taking place across America.

“Being one of the first sports back, it’s important to set the tone going forward for other sports and for just people in general,” Brooks Koepka said.

“And I think it’s important to set the tone. At 8:46, I think it’s going to be special. I don’t know that the PGA Tour has ever really done something like this, a moment of silence even during the rounds. Not while I’ve been playing. I think it’s special with what’s going on right now.

“There needs to be change, and I want to be part of the solution, and I think this is one way that the PGA TOUR is stepping up and doing that.”

Foxes fans have already donated over £80,000 to the Foundation during an extraordinary first week of 2019/20 ticket rebates.

And that money, along with any further donations during the rebate process, will be used to support the renovation of the LRI’s Kinmonth Unit – a key facility for University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust.

The English football season is due to restart this month following its suspension in March, but games will take place behind closed doors due to COVID-19.

From 1 June, Leicester City supporters have been able to apply for a rebate on tickets already purchased for the Club’s remaining fixtures – including four Premier League home matches and the FA Cup Quarter-Final tie with Chelsea.

At the request of a number of supporters, an option was made available to donate a proportion of those refunds to the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation and its work supporting our community’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

And within a week, with applications received for 64% of Season Tickets and match tickets, a total of £80,218 has been donated. The rebate application process will remain open until Tuesday 30 June.

The funds donated – and further donations from the rebate process – will be used to support the refurbishment of the Kinmonth Unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary, via the Leicester Hospitals Charity – a facility that supports patient recovery from major head and neck injuries and the only ward at the LRI that can house patients immediately after they leave intensive care.

Susan Whelan, Leicester City’s Chief Executive and a trustee of the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation, explained: “The time we have spent working with Leicester Hospitals during the pandemic has given us some valuable insight into the areas in which we can offer further support. The idea for the Kinmonth Unit was a result of conversations that took place between our staff that volunteered to work on the site and their colleagues they shared facilities with during that time.

“This is an extraordinary gift from Leicester City supporters who, during difficult times that have been so testing for so many, have still found a way to support those less fortunate. We felt that such a gift deserved to have a definitive purpose and the

Kinmonth Unit – such an important asset to the LRI and to our community – is just that. It’s our supporters’ gift to Leicester Hospitals.”

Lisa Davies, Director of Leicester Hospital’s Charity said: “We are honoured to receive the amazing support of Leicester City Football Club, its supporters and the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation.

“The support for the Kinmonth Unit will revitalise the staff and patient experience by brightening the area with new wall art, providing televisions for patients in isolation and a new staff rest and refreshment area. The vital support will enhance and transform the lives of staff and patients for years to come.”

Supporting the refurbishment of the Kinmonth Unit adds to the work the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation has already undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the community’s immediate response and its work in the future emergence from the crisis.

University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland have been among the Foundation’s beneficiaries in recent weeks. The 2020 Gift of a Wish programme was also launched in April, offering financial, logistical and volunteering support to a range of applicant causes across Leicestershire & Rutland.

Renamed the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation in November 2018 in honour of the Club’s late Chairman, the charity aims to use its position to be a force for good through its impact on the lives of people in its community and has raised millions of pounds for dozens of worthy causes since its formation in 2011.

The decision, which was not unanimous and made during a specially called meeting Tuesday but not announced until Wednesday night, came roughly 24 hours after the U.S. women’s national team issued a statement calling for the immediate repeal of the policy. In their statement, the women’s team also asked that the USSF acknowledge that the policy was wrong and to apologize to the organization’s black players and supporters.

The women, who were joined in calling for the policy’s reversal by the men’s national team and a group of current and former national team players (both men and women), got exactly that.

“The U.S. Soccer Federation affirms Black Lives Matter, and we support the fight against racial injustices,” the organization said in a statement confirming its repeal of its policy on standing during the anthem.

“We have not done enough to listen – especially to our players – to understand and acknowledge the very real and meaningful experiences of Black and other minority communities in our country. We apologize to our players – especially our Black players – staff, fans, and all who support eradicating racism. Sports are a powerful platform for good, and we have not used our platform as effectively as we should have. We can do more on these specific issues and we will.”

The policy against kneeling during the national anthem was instituted in 2017, after midfielder Megan Rapinoe took a knee during the anthem before a 2016 U.S. match against Thailand to express her solidarity with former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his silent protest of racial injustice and police brutality.

U.S. Soccer responded with a policy stating that all people representing one of the federation’s national teams “shall stand respectfully during the playing of national anthems at any event in which the Federation is represented.”

With its reversal, U.S. Soccer becomes the latest U.S. sports governing body to pivot and publicly affirm a commitment to racial justice and athletes’ rights to speak out and express their views following the May 25 death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, while a Minnesota police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Tuesday’s conference call was convened by U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone, presiding over the panel’s first meeting since she assumed the post following the March 12 resignation of Carlos Cordeiro.

Intarat Yodbangteoy, who is also first vice-president of the IWF, dismissed the findings of the McLaren Independent Investigation into Weightlifting, which claimed he had bribed delegates to vote for disgraced former IWF president Tamas Ajan. The findings were published earlier this week by the UK-based sports website Insidethegames.biz.

“It was obvious that there were not any [rival] candidates, so it was unnecessary to bribe anyone for this position as alleged,” said Intarat during a press conference at the Sports Authority of Thailand on Wednesday (June 10).

“Furthermore, the Central Election Commission of Switzerland supervised the IWF Electoral Congress. If it had any suspicions or doubts, it would be reported them to the Congress immediately,” he added.

“This allegation is an insult to individuality and humanity,” said Intarat, who also threatened to sue his accusers.

The entire executive board of the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association, which had been run for years by the IWF’s Intarat, resigned in the wake of doping allegations earlier this year.

Thai weightlifters are banned from the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games because of multiple doping offences.

The spectacular Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello never fails to deliver some incredible races, and always in front of one of the most passionate and vibrant crowds of the season. The track hosted its first MotoGP™ event in 1976 and became a permanent fixture on the calendar in 1991, making 2020 the first time in nearly 30 years that the Tuscan track will not host a Grand Prix.

Paolo Poli, CEO of Mugello Circuit: “Despite the communal effort made to find a practical solution, the impossibility of staging an event that is open to spectators, as well as the difficulties that have arisen from this exceptional situation, have not allowed us to find a new date for the Italian Grand Prix.

“I would like to thank all of our fans who have supported and encouraged us during these months, and invite them back to Mugello in 2021 for what will be, as always, one of the most iconic events of the season.”

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of Mugello. Sadly, we were not able to find a solution to the logistical and operational issues resulting from the pandemic and rearranged calendar to enable us to visit the venue this season. It is a great loss as Mugello is one of the most beautiful circuits in the world and one we are very proud to call the home of the Italian Grand Prix.

“On behalf of Dorna, I would like to thank the fans for the understanding and patience they have shown as we wait for the situation to improve. We very much look forward to returning to Mugello next season for another stunning weekend of racing.”

“A few weeks ago, having experienced a setback during my initial rehabilitation, I had to have an additional quick arthroscopic procedure on my right knee,” Federer tweeted along with a promise to return in 2021. “Now, much like I did leading up to the 2017 season, I plan to take the necessary time to be 100% ready to play at my highest level.”

The 20-time Grand Slam winner spent most of the 2016 season recovering from a knee injury and returned in 2017 to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Federer, 38, last played in the Australian Open in January, losing in a semifinal to Novak Djokovic. His next appearance will presumably be in the 2021 Australian Open, which begins Jan. 18 in Melbourne.

Professional tennis was suspended in March and will be shut down until at least the end of July because of the coronavirus pandemic. It upset the schedule of the sport’s four major tournaments with Wimbledon canceled for the first time since World War II and the French Open moved from May to Sept. 20. The next major is the U.S. Open, scheduled to begin Aug. 31 in New York.

There are practical reasons for Federer’s decision, too. The French Open’s clay courts aren’t a favorable surface for him and the heat of New York has been a problem, too. In addition, the game’s biggest players have indicated that they have concerns about traveling during the pandemic.

If a vaccine were available, players are at odds over whether they would take it if required by the Association of Tennis Professionals. Djokovic initially said he was against it, but said he was open to considering it. Rafael Nadal said players would have to follow whatever the rules are no matter who they are.

“Djokovic will have to be vaccinated if he wants to keep playing tennis at the top level,” Nadal said recently. “The same for me. Everyone will have to follow the rules, just like now we have to stay at home. . . . If the ATP or the International Tennis Federation obligates us to take the vaccine to play tennis, then we will have to do it.”

When tennis resumes, it may look drastically different, at least at the moment. Initial plans for the U.S. Open call for no fans in the stands and charter flights to carry players and limited entourages from Europe, South America and the Middle East to New York, The Associated Press reported. Players must test negative for the virus, housing would be centralized and there would be daily temperature checks. In addition, there would be no locker-room access on practice days and there would be fewer on-court officials. The situation for now is “still fluid,” a USTA official told the AP.

And, with Federer out, there is the sobering possibility that the U.S. Open men’s draw could be missing three of the game’s top players.

Djokovic, who said he is thinking of skipping the U.S. Open to prepare for the French, calls the possibilities “really extreme” and Nadal last week seemed unlikely to come to New York.

“Today,” Nadal said, “I will say, ‘No.’ In a couple of months? I don’t know.”

It couldn’t have worked out better for Zamboanga, who is right where she needs to be, preparing with her team at Fairtex for the biggest challenge of her young career.

The 23-year-old Filipina earned a shot at the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title currently held by Singapore’s Angela Lee following a dominant unanimous decision victory over highly-regarded Japanese veteran Mei Yamaguchi last February. Zamboanga put together a masterful striking performance for three rounds to outgun Yamaguchi and claim the victory.

The win solidified Zamboanga’s place among the atomweight ranks. She’s currently the number one contender just behind the champion Lee, and is rightfully next in line to compete for the ONE World Title.

Zamboanga knows the mountain she has to climb to reach the pinnacle of her quest for a world championship, and she hasn’t let up, despite the circumstances.

“This pandemic hasn’t stopped me from training hard. I never stopped training and I’m working towards my goals,” said Zamboanga. “I train everyday because you never know when it will be time to step inside the Circle again and prove yourself. I have to stay ready.”

The mountain that stands before Zamboanga comes in the form of Lee, who is arguably ONE Championship’s top female talent.

Lee has held the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title since 2016, when she became the youngest mixed martial arts world champion in the history of the sport. The Singaporean has remained unbeaten at atomweight since, effecting a reign of dominance that saw Lee defeat whoever ONE put in front of her.

Though many fans and experts point to Lee’s stand-up game as her biggest weakness and one that Zamboanga may be able to exploit, Lee has shown great improvement in this area in recent bouts. Her grappling game, however, remains her biggest asset. Lee is extremely dangerous on the ground, and has finished eight of her 10 opponents, including seven by submission.

To say that Zamboanga has her work cut out for her is an understatement. If she can beat Lee, it would certainly mark an upset of epic proportions. Zamboanga knows exactly what she’s up against, and is training accordingly.

“Obviously, Angela’s wrestling and grappling are her greatest strengths. But her striking is good too. I don’t consider striking as her weakness. I think she’s a very well-rounded fighter. At this level, I don’t think it’s smart to underestimate anybody, especially a fighter as talented as Angela. I’m going into this expecting the best version of Angela Lee possible,” said Zamboanga.

“She can go in there and knock me out. She’s working just as hard as I am at the gym. That’s the mindset I have heading into this fight. I have to prepare myself to bring my absolute best into the Circle because that’s what it’s going to take to win.”

Though details of the bout have yet to be revealed, Zamboanga fully expects news to hit soon after the situation with Covid-19 eases and ONE Championship is able to resume holding its events.

For now, Zamboanga is perfectly fine honing her skills and fine-tuning her game in preparation for what she believes will be an explosive Fight of the Year candidate.

“I don’t think this is going to be easy at all. It’s probably going to be the toughest fight of my career. I’m looking forward to the challenge and being pushed to my limit. It’s going to be a great fight. We’re going to put on the fight of the year,” said Zamboanga.

Zamboanga is deep in training alongside teammates ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex and ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “Iron Man” Jitmuangnon. She is accompanied by her older brother Drex “T-Rex” Zamboanga, himself a titleholder in another organization.

They are working hard to prepare Zamboanga for her first shot at the ONE World Title. And while Lee is admittedly an athlete Zamboanga looks up to, the Filipina warrior promises she’ll be ready to seize the moment once the Circle door closes.

“I have all the respect in the world for Angela and what she has accomplished so far in her career. The way she trains and competes, it’s extraordinary. She’s a strong and highly technical fighter. But I have strength too. And most importantly, I have the heart. The world will see two pretty girls put on the performance of a lifetime. I’m ready to go to war,” said Zamboanga.

“Angela, I’m a huge fan. You’re my idol. But because I respect you so much, I have to give it my best. I owe it to the fans and I owe it to you. When we meet in the Circle, it’s fan versus idol. I can’t wait to get in there and mix it up.”

The major championship will return to the LPGA Tour schedule in 2021 at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France.

“I have been incredibly impressed by the entire team at The Evian Championship. They worked so hard to host this global event despite the obvious challenges,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “They know that high-pursed, career-changing events like The Evian are more important than ever, especially in an LPGA year that has been drastically reduced due to COVID-19. I know this was a tough decision for everyone involved, but it’s one that we had to take given the restrictions we faced.

“It is disappointing to miss a major championship but Evian’s strong history of showcasing the best female golfers will continue once again when we return in 2021. We look forward to being back on the mountain in Evian next year and for a long time to come.”