he 22-year-old prodigy will resume the season in No. 1 position on the points list after a maiden PGA TOUR victory at The Honda Classic and a third place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard in March.

His imperious run of form, following on from a standout 2019 where he was voted Rookie of the Year, came to a halt when the Covid-19 pandemic forced the suspension of play in mid-March. Following a three-month hiatus, the talented Korean is ready to pick up from where he left off as he bids to become the first Asian winner of the PGA TOUR’s prestigious season-long prize.

“I know I’ll be incredibly excited to be at the first tournament back, and my goal is to make it to the weekend at Colonial,” said Im.

“I’m thankful the players will have a chance to compete. Even though there won’t be fans in attendance at the first four events, I’m looking forward to our first tournament back. I hope to play as many events as I can, but I’ll probably take a week off somewhere around the halfway point.”

With an abbreviated season, 14 events remain and will culminate with the FedExCup Playoff finale, The TOUR Championship in early September. The winner will walk away with golf’s biggest prize of US$15 million.

“I would, of course, like to win the FedExCup, but there are so many strong competitors. It’s easy to forget that I’ll actually be leading when play resumes. I was playing well before the season was delayed. If I were to win the FedExCup, I don’t think I could even put into words what it would mean to me. It would definitely be a turning point in my career, and it motivates me to have a strong season. Even though we still have a long way to go, I will try not to be too greedy and rather, focus on the task at hand.”

The Charles Schwab Challenge will boast a stellar field this week. The top five players on the Official World Golf Ranking are slated to appear at Colonial – the first time it has happened at the Fort Worth, Texas, event since 1986.

No. 1 Rory McIlroy, who is the reigning FedExCup champion, and No. 4 Justin Thomas are playing at Colonial for the first time while No. 2 Jon Rahm is making his fourth start and No. 3 Brooks Koepka is making his second. No. 5 Dustin Johnson is making his third Colonial start, but his first since 2014. Thomas and McIlroy are among the top nine players in the FedExCup standings who slated to play. Of the top 20 in the standings, 17 will be at Colonial, including defending champ Kevin Na, who is 11th.

To keep his game in shape during the enforced break, Im flew his -time coach Hyun Choi to Tampa to help keep an eye on his swing. “My game was in great shape until this break, so I fortunately didn’t have to make too many changes. I just stuck to my usual practice routine and played every day. I’m not the type to make too many swing changes, so he (Choi) came over mainly to help me keep what I already have. We’re very close, and he’s been working with me since I was in high school. Even though he’s a great mentor, he’s also a great friend. So, I had a lot of fun when he was here. His mere presence made me feel more at ease,” said Im.

“As everyone knows, I like to play in a lot of events. I made 35 starts last season and was at 14 of the 16 tournaments to start this year. So, it’s been disappointing for me to not be able to compete these last couple of months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Actually, as I look back at my career, I think this may be the longest break from competition I’ve ever had.”

Since becoming  the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year in 2018, Im’s stock has risen sharply that fellow competitors who have played alongside him have rated him highly and predicted great things for Im. His win at The Honda only confirmed his potential, which came four months after an impressive Presidents Cup debut where he delivered 3.5 points for the International Team including a singles victory over Gary Woodland.

“As everyone knows, you can’t be too greedy in this game. I just want to take it one tournament at a time and give it my best to let the results speak for my game. I know that if I stick to my usual game plan and the way I play, I’ll have a chance.  Obviously, my ultimate goal is to make it to the TOUR Championship.”

One such bout on the horizon is a long-awaited showdown between reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes and ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson.

The two top flyweight talents have been on a collision course since Johnson made his ONE Championship debut in early 2019. After “Mighty Mouse” emerged the overall winner in last year’s highly-acclaimed ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix, his meeting with Moraes was essentially confirmed.

Johnson is expected to meet Moraes for the world title once the whole Covid-19 situation blows over.

Team Lakay rising star Danny “The King” Kingad, who has experienced facing both Moraes and Johnson in the Circle, understands the intricate details this blockbuster matchup entails.

“Adriano [Moraes] is so dangerous with his jiu-jitsu. You can’t relax on the mat even for a second. But he isn’t particularly strong in the striking department, and his wrestling is just okay,” Kingad said.

Kingad succumbed to Moraes in 2017 via first round submission in his first shot at the ONE World Title. “The King” brought an unblemished seven-win slate into the bout, but his torch was ceremoniously snuffed in the first loss of his professional career.

And then last October, Kingad fell by unanimous decision care of a dominant performance from Johnson in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship Finals at ONE: CENTURY.

“DJ (Demetrious Johnson), on the other hand, is a fighter who has very little weakness, if any. He’s strong in both striking and in grappling, and he’s always constantly aware of scoring in every minute of a fight. He knows what he needs to do to win, and he’s on top of everything,” he added.

Kingad believes that although the bout should be a close one, the American Johnson should have more than enough in his toolbox to put together a convincing win on the scorecards.

“I think it’s going to be a great fight. Obviously, it’s a tough matchup for both. Can Adriano handle DJ’s all around greatness? If it does go to the ground, how will DJ’s jiu-jitsu hold up against Adriano’s?” said Kingad.

“If it comes to a decision, which I think it will, I do have to go with DJ on this one. I just think he’s better in all aspects of martial arts. It’s not going to be an easy fight for either guy, but I think DJ takes it.”

When Johnson finally meets Moraes in the Circle, Kingad will surely be watching intently. The Filipino stalwart is currently the second-ranked flyweight, sitting just beneath Johnson in the official ONE Championship athlete rankings. So a potential rematch with either Johnson or Moraes is most likely in the cards for the young star.

Kingad doesn’t mind taking on either of the two, and will not say no to potentially facing the winner of the much-anticipated showdown.

“I would love to rematch either of them, or fight the winner,” said Kingad.

“All I want to do is to face the best, and these two guys are the best in the division. It would be an honor. Right now, I just have to continue training hard and winning, and I believe in my heart I’ll get another shot at the world title.”

Like his teammates at Team Lakay and the majority of professional athletes around the world, Kingad is at home and indoors in lockdown to help stave off the progression of the Covid-19 pandemic through social distancing.

Athletes have been forced to become creative with their workouts, as the use of gym facilities is still prohibited under the Philippines’ nationwide community quarantine. But despite the circumstance, Kingad said he’s laser-focused on continuing to improve his skills and make sure he’s ready when it’s time to go again.

“I’m taking things day by day. Obviously, it’s a tough situation for everyone. I’m making the best of it, training at home, staying conditioned as best as I can,” said Kingad.

“I want to be ready when it’s time to step back into the Circle.”

The decision for the Tour’s restart in September is also largely centered around international travel restrictions which can present a huge logistic challenge for many players living outside countries where tournaments are staged.

Asian Tour’s Commissioner and CEO, Cho Minn Thant said: “We are targeting a conservative restart in September because of the current predicament with restrictions on air travel and large gatherings. Unlike domestic markets, we understand international travel will slowly restart in phases and the ultimate lifting of quarantine periods will determine the Tour’s ability to resume full-scale operations.”

The Shinhan Donghae Open is expected to be the first event to tee off since the global COVID-19 pandemic forced the season to be suspended in March. The tournament has been scheduled to tee off at Bear’s Best Cheongna Golf Club located in Incheon, Korea from September 10-13 with a purse of KRW1.4 billion (approximately US$1,181,000 million).

Plans are in place for the season to continue onwards to Chinese Taipei and Japan for the Mercuries Taiwan Masters and Panasonic Open Golf Championship respectively. Following that, discussions are already in place for an event in South East Asia before the Tour goes to India for what is targeted to be an ‘Indian Swing’ with the Panasonic Open India, the re-scheduled Hero Indian Open and a possible new event in Delhi.

“We are targeting between 10 to 12 events from September to December. There is a prospect of the Tour traveling to China and culminating with a stretch which includes the Hong Kong Open and Mauritius Open in the later part of the year.  During this period, if things go our way, there may also be a couple of new events that get added to the schedule.

“As for the Asian Development Tour, we are targeting between six to eight tournaments with events in Thailand, Indonesia and Chinese Taipei while events in Malaysia are still pending,” said Cho.

While dates for other events are still in discussions with promoters and key stakeholders, the Asian Tour remains very hopeful of recovering much of its season amid the rapidly evolving situation.

“It is encouraging to see the gradual relaxation of social distancing measures throughout the globe. The return to action of several major sports organizations and leagues, although without fans in attendance, has given all of us a huge uplift in many respects.

“We have been working diligently behind the scenes to rearrange the tournament schedule and ensure that we can play as much tournament golf as practically possible in the last four months of 2020. Our measured approach has been based on the constant changes that we face on a daily basis,” said Cho.

With members of over 25 different nationalities residing across the globe, their ability to travel is very much dependent on the respective local government health and travel guidelines. Taking into consideration the possibility of extended disruptions for some of its members, discussions are being held to determine the conclusion of the season and its transition into 2021.

“We anticipate that there may be some restrictions for travellers from certain countries when we resume. If this is the case, we will still start as planned with players who can travel and assess the impact and severity of the disadvantage for those who cannot.

“Once this information is established, we will make a call with regards to the conclusion of the season and the transition into the 2021 season. But at this time, we plan to extend our season into 2021, with the early events in 2021 also forming part of the current season,” said Cho.

As events make their welcome return, they will also be expected to take on a different look and feel in the wake of the new normal with heightened health and safety regulations.

“There is no doubt there will be some compromises in the early events. These could be in areas that we have taken for granted for many years. If we need to minimize the number of foreign travellers travelling into a host country, we may have to do without private caddies, entourages, and support staff. It is possible that only players and essential staff are permitted to travel.

“If hospitality marquee structures are not feasible because of the crowds that they attract, we may need to create other low risk opportunities for sponsors, such as an additional pro-am. But these temporary measures are necessary to ensure that we can resume our tournaments this year,” added Cho.

It was the 16th tournament of a 2019-20 season that was five months old and already wildly successful, given that Tiger Woods had won yet again, at the ZOZO Championship, pulling even with Sam Snead for most wins in PGA Tour history. Justin Thomas had been victorious twice, too, and Rory McIlroy had triumphed in China and was on the verge of returning to World No. 1.

All in all, a brilliant run of success that seemed to bode well for golf’s push into prime global view.

But at same time, overseas reports told of the spread of a coronavirus. The World Health Organization suggested countries prepare for widespread “containment” and “isolation,” though the United States federal, state, local governments fell short of insisting on what health experts were advertising as “social-distancing.”

By the time Webb Simpson beat Tony Finau in a playoff on Feb. 2, the celebration at TPC Scottsdale had once again been a smash hit. If the Tour, or any other sport in America, were in the same galaxy as coronavirus, it was news to everyone. After all, there were only seven confirmed cases in the United States out of a population of 331 million people.

But less than six weeks later there would be a clash of galaxies never before seen, and the Tour—like nearly every other U.S. business—faced a stark reality.

It had to shut down.

The pandemic came in an invisible wave at a time when the sport was kicking off a stretch of marquee events, starting with The Players Championship.

But there was unease in the air. Eighteen U.S. deaths had been attributed to COVID-19 by that point, with more than 1,200 reported cases. Compounding the concern was the medical reality that no one knew much about this virus and questions far outnumbered answers.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan mentioned it and talked about preparedness.

That information, drawn from the PGA Tour medical advisor, Dr. Thomas Hospel, and U.S. and world health organizations, provided the confidence to proceed with the tournament. Hot areas of COVID-19 were sparse; sports in America were still on, and so officials left TPC Sawgrass on March 11 with great anticipation for a brilliant competition.

But before they went to bed that evening the picture changed dramatically. A National Basketball Association player tested positive for COVID-19, and for those who follow sports there was reason to worry.

Thursday arrived with ideal weather and arguably the largest first-round crowd in tournament history. Fans watched Hideki Matsuyama shoot 9-under 63, but it wasn’t possible for Monahan to enjoy the action.

Instead, it was a day spent monitoring the proceedings elsewhere. The NBA suspended its season, as did the National Hockey League and NASCAR. Major League Baseball said it would not start its season that month.

Even as large galleries watched the first round, Monahan and his team made the decision to play the event without spectators. “Both the White House and the (Florida) Governor’s office have been, and are, supportive of the precautionary measures we have taken to this point,” said the commissioner mid-day Thursday.

“But,” he added, “it’s important to note that that could change.”

About eight hours later, it did, too, in a most unthinkable way. The Tour canceled The Players.

What happened from mid-day to late evening? Enough players voiced concern, said Monahan, “and that’s something we took very seriously.”

Slowly, states were going into lockdown or “shelter in place.” Monahan’s team knew it was essentially the last sport standing. “This is the biggest event of the year for us,” he said solemnly on March 13. “But even though we feel like we have a safe environment and we’ve done all the right things, we can’t proceed and it’s not right to proceed.”

If the season shutdown came with a numbing swiftness, the task of restoring sense to the landscape was going to be exceedingly slow. Fortunately, Monahan is a man built on patience and good reason, and he used every drop of those assets as the dominoes fell.

First, the cancellation of The Players extended to the next three tournaments. Then came a shocking announcement that caught everyone’s attention—the Masters would be postponed from its annual April date. The Tour canceled four additional events, and when the PGA of America added that it would postpone its PGA Championship, it meant golf was gone through at least May 17.

Monahan remained upbeat and players embraced that confidence.

“Postponed is a comforting word,” said Xander Schauffele. “As long as it says, ‘postponed,’ I think the players will find hope.”

Monahan fully intended to deliver on the hope, but first, there was a hurdle to navigate. The global professional golf bodies—the Masters, the U.S. Golf Association, the PGA of America, the R&A, the LPGA—needed to be galvanized, not splintered, and Monahan was at the forefront of the discussions.

On April 6, the organizations made a joint announcement, four significant men’s tournaments receiving clarification. The PGA Championship would be played in August, the U.S. Open in September, the Masters in November and The Open Championship canceled.

With confirmed dates for the major championships settled, Monahan went to work on what would be left of the 2019-20 PGA Tour schedule. Again, he leaned on an organization that had built a strong foundation in its 51 years; Monahan was determined to return, but only with proper safety measures.

“We have pledged from the start to be responsible, thoughtful and transparent with our decision process,” said Monahan, who less than two weeks later revealed that the Tour would return on June 11 with the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.

There will be 14 tournaments over a 13-week period, culminating with three consecutive FedExCup playoffs: The Northern Trust, Aug. 20-23; the BMW Championship, Aug. 27-30, and the Tour Championship Sept. 4-7. A 36-tournament schedule had been salvaged, 10 other events canceled, a handful of others forced to change their dates and everybody’s lives affected.

Between the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 8 and the first round of this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge, there will be 94 days of a shutdown that offered unprecedented obstacles and uncertainty. But never did it leave Monahan without faith.

When the impulse was to spring back into golf, he resisted. There was consistent dialogue with players and cities set to host tournaments. And there was support from dozens of players who used social media to keep fans invested.

As May turned to June and American sports leagues remained uncommitted to a return to action, the Tour’s due diligence looked even more impressive. Tireless conversations with health officials and government leaders enabled the Tour to put in place a testing plan to lend a layer of confidence.

With everything in place, it was then a matter of waiting for the Charles Schwab Challenge week to arrive.

U.S. Solheim Cup captain Pat Hurst has selected major champion and six-time Team USA member Angela Stanford as an assistant captain for the 2021 Solheim Cup. Stanford will work alongside Hurst as Team USA aims to reclaim the Solheim Cup from Team Europe at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, on Sept. 4-6.

“As soon as Mike Whan asked me to be the USA captain, I knew that I wanted Angela by my side as an assistant captain,” said Hurst. “Her fire, her passion, her determination, her love for the Red, White and Blue, those are all qualities I want on my team. I have no doubt that Angela will be a tremendous asset to the team as we look to win back the Cup in Toledo next September.”

“My six Solheim Cup teams are among the highlights of my career and I’m excited to take this next step as an assistant captain,” said Stanford. “I’m really looking forward to being back in the Team room, where we’re all after the same goal and we all have the same passion to win the Cup. This is an incredible honor and I can’t thank Pat enough for having me on her team.”

Stanford has been a member of the LPGA Tour since 2001. She has six LPGA Tour victories, including earning her first major title at the 2018 Evian Championship in her 18th season on Tour. She has competed in six Solheim Cups, representing the USA in 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. In 2015, Stanford earned the winning point for Team USA with her 2-and-1 victory over Suzann Pettersen.

Hurst and Stanford both played on the 2007 American Solheim Cup team that defeated Europe at Sweden’s Halmstad Golf Club. They paired together for a 4-and-2 foursomes victory over Iben Tinning and Bettina Hauert.

“Pat took me under her wing from the beginning of my career and I’ve learned so much from spending time with her,” said Stanford. “There’s this ease about her, but she’s still so confident and positive. I loved getting to be her playing partner in Sweden and now I’m so excited that she picked me to be her assistant captain in Toledo.”

Prior to joining the LPGA Tour, Stanford was a four-year All-American at Texas Christian University, where she won nine collegiate tournaments. She is a 2000 TCU graduate with a degree in Speech Communications.

With a full week of action at the 2021 Solheim Cup, fans can purchase various ticket and hospitality packages to enjoy every activity in Toledo at Inverness Club. New in 2021 is the Solheim Pavilion, which will give ticketholders a 300-degree view of the surrounding holes, upgraded food and beverage options and much more. Information on ticket options and prices is available at SolheimCupUSA.com.

About The Solheim Cup:

The Solheim Cup combines the tradition and prestige of the game of golf with passion for one’s country and continent. This biennial international match-play competition features the best U.S. players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour and the best European players from the Ladies European Tour (LET).

The Solheim Cup is named in honor of Karsten Solheim, the founder of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, which makes PING golf equipment. In 1990, the Solheim family, in conjunction with the LPGA and the LET, developed the concept and became the title sponsor for the Solheim Cup. Today, the Global Partners of the Solheim Cup are PING, Rolex and Marathon Petroleum.

Held every two years, the event has grown into the most prestigious international women’s professional golf team event. The 2021 Solheim Cup will be held at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, on Sept. 4-6. In 2019, Team Europe took a thrilling 14.5-13.5 victory at Gleneagles in Scotland, a thrilling win that came down to the final putt. Team USA leads Team Europe, 10-6, all-time in Solheim Cup competition.

The final stage of the 2020 MotoGP™ eSport Championship is edging ever closer, with the line-up for this year’s Global Series now finalised and announced via the Draft Selection.

The eleven riders – hailing from four continents – will each represent one of the current MotoGP™teams in the four-round Global Series, and have been chosen after some stellar time-attack performances in the Online Challenges. A total of 22 gamers (16 from Europe, 6 from the Rest of the World) were entered into the Draft Selection phase, and the 11 competitors heading through come from Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Italy and Spain to make up a strong Global Series entry list.

Each MotoGP™ team has picked one Official eSport rider and one Reserve eSport rider. Should an Official eSport rider suffer from injury, sickness or another unfortunate event that prevents them from competing in the Global Series, a Reserve eSport rider will take their place.

Here’s the full list of Official riders:

Ducati Team: AndrewZh (Italy)

The reigning MotoGP™ eSport Champion (real name: Andrea Saveri) remains with Ducati Team for a second year for his title defence. The 19-year old Italian from Bologna has been an eSport regular since 2018, when he finished third overall.

Reserve Rider: 阿仁_15 (Taiwan)

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP: trastevere73(Italy)

trastevere73 (real name: Lorenzo Daretti) is the closest thing to MotoGP™ eSport royalty. The Italian secured championship victories in 2017 and 2018, which convinced Monster Energy Yamaha to secure his services for 2019 – when he finished just two points off the top.

Reserve Rider: Vindex813 (Italy)

Team Suzuki Ecstar: Williams_Cristian (Spain)

Previously known as Cristianmm17 and one of the stars of previous MotoGP™ eSport Championships, Williams_Cristian (real name: Christian Montenegro) has plenty of experience racing at the highest level after scoring two brilliant wins in last year’s Global Series.

Reserve Rider: XxBoMbeR_45xX  (Spain)

Repsol Honda Team: FooXz (Brazil)

FooXz – real name Henrique Botton – will make his debut appearance in the MotoGP™ Global Series after some inspired showings in the Online Challenges. The 26-year old took maximum points in the Pro Draft and becomes only the second competitor to represent Brazil in the Global Series.

Reserve Rider: wallydj (UK)

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: Williams_Adrian (Spain)

Previously known as adrianDP26, Williams_Adrian (real name: Adrian Montenegro, brother of Williams_Cristian) was undone by inconsistency in the 2019 Global Series, when he finished fifth, but he had excellent showings in the 2020 Pro Draft.

Reserve Rider: Motero_1 (Spain)

Aprilia Racing Team Gresini: EleGhosT555 (Spain)

Another name with plenty experience, EleGhost555 (real name: Francisco Javier Santiago) will be keen to put the disappointment of the 2019 Global Series behind him when competing for Aprilia Racing Team Gresini in 2020. The 22-year old Spaniard finished second in 2018, but only placed seventh a year ago.

Reserve Rider: Joel_Clay (Spain)

Petronas Yamaha SRT: Sanshoqueen (Indonesia)

Another new name, Sanshoqueen (real name: Mulkanarizky Kane) will be one of two Indonesians in the 2020 Global Series. The 22-year old was something of a revelation in the Pro Draft, amassing 70 points from a possible 75 to gain a seat in the ultra competitive Petronas Yamaha SRT squad.

Reserve Rider: JulitoCampeon15 (Spain)

LCR Honda Castrol: moe (Indonesia)

A string of excellent performances in the 2019 Global Series helped Moe (real name: Putut Maulana) gain a large following in his native bike-mad Indonesia. He finished eighth in last year’s championship and is only getting better.

Reserve Rider: PieroRicciuti55 (Italy)

Red Bull KTM Tech 3: Juan_nh16 (Spain)

Arguably the surprise package of the 2019 Global Series, little was expected of Juan_nh16 (real name: Juan Antonio Nuñez) before he took his Red Bull KTM Tech 3 to fourth in the championship.

Reserve Rider: Riky (Italy)

Pramac Racing: Davidegallina23 (Italy)

A returning face for 2020, Davidegallina23 was an impressive performer in the 2018 MotoGP™ eSport finals but didn’t make the cut in last year’s series. Now the 19-year old Italian (real name: Davide Gallina) is back.

Reserve Rider: Jack Hammer4659 (UK)

 Reale Avintia Racing: MrTftw (Australia)

Fans of the Championship will be familiar with MrTftw (real name: Christopher Telep) after his incredible journey to last year’s Global Series – having no previous experience in bike racing prior to buying MotoGP™19 early last year. MrTftw quickly learnt the secrets of the game to sensationally qualify for the Global Series and is back in 2020.

Reserve Rider: bushino47 (Morocco)

Get ready for more scintillating action in 2020 as the MotoGP™ eSport Championship powers up, and stay up to date on all the latest at motogp.com and esport.motogp.com, as well as across social media platforms including YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Williams_Cristian returns to compete in Suzuki Ecstar colours

MrTftw lines up for Reale Avintia Moe represents LCR

Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta once again sat down with motogp.com recently, debriefing developments and outlining a glimpse of what the 2020 season may look like as we get closer to the possibility of getting back on track.

What is MotoGP™ working on now, and in the future more long term?

“We’ve had several fruitful meetings and especially had a very profitable meeting with the manufacturers, we presented the protocol to them before we presented it to the Spanish and  later to other authorities. We agreed a few different things, we gave them the chance to explain to us what they think about different possibilities, it was very profitable and we also approved the number of engines depending on the number of races we will have this season, which was agreed unanimously by all manufacturers. We also talked about the necessities for the future, but it was essentially to get their view on the protocol and then later to approve the situation regarding engines in the 2020 season.”

Are there any updates on races outside Europe being held at the end of the season?

“This was something I explained in the meeting with them: the calendar we hope to present next week that starts, if everything goes well, on the 19th of July in Jerez. And the latest race on that calendar will be at the beginning of November, with 12 or 13 rounds. But races outside of Europe is something we need to decide, still. There will be a number of races presented – the four non-European races that have not been cancelled: Thailand, Malaysia, Americas and Argentina – for which we will search for approval and we have a deadline of the end of July to tell everybody if we continue with them or stop. After the first two races we will see if the calendar will be 12, 14 or a maximum of 16 rounds.”

We’ve seen riders back training and even a KTM test in Austria, what do you think of that as a sign of hope about the Championship getting closer?

“This is very good, the start of training!  And when we knew that some circuits had the idea to let professionals start, we thought it was a very good idea. In fact, we knew for some riders that when they even had the change to do motocross and things like that, it was very helpful for all of them. I know they’re happy because the MotoGP riders haven’t ridden since the test before Qatar, and Moto2 and Moto3 since Qatar. It’s important to start and they’re all anxious to start again!”

What will the paddock look like this season? What special measures and controls will there be, and how will the teams prepare?

“We’ve made a very defined protocol, working together with the different Ministers of Sport in different countries we will visit, to have an idea from any of the countries what we can do. Then in principle, any rider coming to race will have a medical before, and if the doctor decides they need to have a test, they will do it before coming to the first race in Spain. Then later, before coming to the paddock, there will be another test, and then a protocol with control every day, plenty of things in the paddock and especially insulation between each team. We have also some measures for places to eat and everything, in principle, where people are coming from the hotel to the circuit, and circuit to the hotel. Obviously this is for how the situation is right now, if between now and July, the situation in any country is more flexible, we’ll allow for that. In principle we want to isolate the paddock from other things and there will be no connection between the permanent people working at the circuit and the MotoGP family. Finally, the MotoGP family will be around or less than 1300 people and we have increased by five the number of members of each manufacturer for the MotoGP class. The numbers for Moto2 and Moto3 remain the same as originally stated.”

Do we know any more about WorldSBK?

“WorldSBK and the FIM CEV Repsol are defining another protocol, they are related to the national federations. All protocols related to any FIM Championship are connected to the FIM and the FIM is the final party who approve the protocols. World Superbike is the same and they will also present their protocol to any national federation.”

Even after all that, the San Antonio Spurs coach may have just used his most unsparing language yet to criticize Trump. While lamenting what he saw as a lack of leadership in the tumultuous aftermath of the killing of George Floyd while in custody of Minneapolis police, Popovich called the president a “deranged idiot,” a “fool” and a “destroyer.”

What Popovich appeared to find particularly galling, as he made clear in comments published Monday by The Nation, was Trump’s refusal to go through the motions of trying to soothe the country after another death of an unarmed black man at the hands of police officers.

“It’s unbelievable,” Popovich said. “If Trump had a brain, even if it was 99 percent cynical, he would come out and say something to unify people. But he doesn’t care about bringing people together. Even now. That’s how deranged he is. It’s all about him. It’s all about what benefits him personally. It’s never about the greater good. And that’s all he’s ever been.”

“It’s so clear what needs to be done. We need a president to come out and say simply that ‘black lives matter.’ Just say those three words. But he won’t and he can’t,” Popovich added. “He can’t because it’s more important to him to mollify the small group of followers who validate his insanity.

“But it’s more than just Trump. The system has to change. I’ll do whatever I can do to help, because that’s what leaders do. But he can’t do anything to put us on a positive path, because he’s not a leader.”

Popovich also denounced three other prominent Republican politicians: Sen. Lindsey O. Graham of South Carolina, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and, most forcefully, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Popovich told The Nation that Graham and Cruz used to have the “courage” to proclaim Trump “unfit” for office, but now they have “chosen instead to be invisible and obsequious in the face of this carnage.”

“In the end, what we have is a fool in place of a president, while the person who really runs the country, Sen. Mitch McConnell, destroys the United States for generations to come,” Popovich said. “McConnell has destroyed and degraded our judicial system. He has tried to destroy heath care. He’s destroyed the environment. He’s the master and Trump’s the stooge, and what’s funny is that Trump doesn’t even know it. Trump’s always wanted to be part of the in group, but McConnell is an in group of one and Trump plays the fool.”

Popovich has won five NBA championships while coaching the Spurs since 1996, giving him the longest tenure with the same team of any coach in the NBA, NFL, NHL or Major League Baseball. His 1,272 regular-season wins are the third most all time, and his .676 winning percentage ranks fourth among coaches with at least five full seasons (410 games).

One of those few coaches with a better winning percentage, Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, has also been outspoken on social issues and in his disapproval of Trump’s tone and policies. In response to a tweet Monday promoting the Nation story, Kerr praised his colleague, writing: “This is why he is Pop. As he once told me – ‘life is short – you either stand for something or you don’t.’ He has always firmly stood for justice and equality, and given the rest of us the courage to do so too.”

Trump has generally taken a confrontational stance regarding the protests, calling for governors to “get tougher” in their responses and frequently suggesting that military assistance be called in.

In a national address Monday evening, Trump said he was “mobilizing all available federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson, and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights.” Citing several episodes of violence amid the protests that he blamed on antifa, among others, Trump said his goal was to “deploy the National Guard in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets.”

In his published comments earlier in the day, Popovich said of the president: “He’s not just divisive. He’s a destroyer. To be in his presence makes you die. He will eat you alive for his own purposes. I’m appalled that we have a leader who can’t say ‘black lives matter.’

“That’s why he hides in the White House basement. He is a coward. He creates a situation and runs away like a grade-schooler. Actually, I think it’s best to ignore him. There is nothing he can do to make this better because of who he is: a deranged idiot.”

The PGA TOUR announced today a new program designed to strengthen and elevate the path to the PGA TOUR through the Korn Ferry Tour, Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Series – China. PGA TOUR University will reward elite collegiate play with varying levels of playing access to Tours operated under the PGA TOUR umbrella, while upholding the principles and virtues of collegiate athletics.

Players eligible for the PGA TOUR University Ranking List will be NCAA Division I golfers who complete a minimum of four years in college.

“With the level of immediate success from the top collegiate players in the last decade, our team has done extensive research over time and developed a plan to provide a pathway for those players as they begin their journeys into the professional ranks,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “By focusing our efforts on players who have completed a minimum of four years, PGA TOUR University will not deter from the college game while ensuring its graduates benefit from their maturity and experience.”

The top 15 finishers from the final Official PGA TOUR University Ranking List at the conclusion of each NCAA collegiate spring season (defined by the conclusion of the NCAA Men’s Division I Golf Championship) will be awarded exempt status to the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Series – China, based on their respective finish.

The top five finishers from the final Official PGA TOUR University Ranking List will receive Korn Ferry Tour membership and will be exempt into all open, full-field events beginning the week following the conclusion of the NCAA Division I Men’s National Championship through the conclusion of the Korn Ferry Tour regular season. The top five finishers will also be exempt into the Final Stage of that year’s Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament.

Finishers Nos. 6-15 will secure membership on one of the International Tours for the current season and a spot in the Second Stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament (if necessary). At that point, these players will have their choice of which International Tour their exempt status applies to.

The eligibility for each respective Tour will begin the week following the conclusion of the NCAA Men’s Division I Golf Championship. The 2021 NCAA Men’s Championship is scheduled to be held at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, from May 28 – June 2.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for these players to begin their professional careers on a path to the PGA TOUR. Just as importantly, we are able to continue building on the great momentum the Korn Ferry Tour and our International Tours have enjoyed in recent years by strengthening the field of competition with the addition of these collegiate stars,” said Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin.

The PGA TOUR will partner with the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), which is administered by The R&A and the USGA, to create the PGA TOUR University Ranking List. The WAGR system ranks the top amateurs on the basis of their average performance in counting events on a rolling cycle over the previous 104 weeks. The list will be filtered to include those players and results meeting the PGA TOUR University eligibility criteria.

Events which will count towards the Official PGA TOUR University Ranking List include NCAA Division I Men’s Golf events and official PGA TOUR events, including the Masters, U.S. Open and The Open Championship.

The first Official PGA TOUR University Ranking List will be unveiled this summer leading into the start of the 2020-21 Division I season, with the Ranking List updated each week during the season.

PGA TOUR University will partner with GOLF Channel to provide extensive coverage of NCAA Division I golf to complement the Ranking List and showcase the race to the top 15. GOLF Channel is the television home for college golf, televising six college golf championships, including the men’s NCAA Championships since 2014.

For more information on PGA TOUR University, including a Frequently Asked Questions page, please visit PGATOUR.com/University.

About PGA TOUR

By showcasing golf’s greatest players, the PGA TOUR engages, inspires and positively impacts our fans, partners and communities worldwide.

The PGA TOUR, headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Series-China. Members on the PGA TOUR represent the world’s best players, hailing from 29 countries and territories (93 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to 212 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving. In 2019, tournaments across all Tours generated a record $204.3 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to more than $3 billion.

Fans can follow the PGA TOUR on PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, on the PGA TOUR app and on social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram (in English, Spanish and Korean), LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat, Weibo, Toutiao and Douyin.