Changes announced to PGA TOUR’s COVID protocols

Tiger Woods is back in action for the first time since the Masters and he’s trying to finish his first round strong at Quail Hollow.

Perhaps the hug on the 18th green was not appropriate in these times but nobody could argue with the sentiment. Park Hyun-kyung’s father had caddied for his daughter all week and when the 22-year-old finally broke her maiden tag with a one-shot win in the KLPGA Championship, he could not resist a victory embrace. The mask he wore made it yet more of incongruous sight. Park’s fellow members of the KLPGA Tour were far more respectful of the regulations, enacting elbow bumps and, as is tradition, throwing rose petals. After nine weeks, the game of golf at last had a new champion on a major tour to celebrate. As the sport looks to the future, Park more than fits the bill. She had already broken into the world’s top 100 after five top-sixes – all Park needed was the win. And she chose an extremely resonant and, indeed, lucrative event in which to complete her graduation. Park’s 67 to overhaul a three-shot deficit on Lim Hee-jeong (71) – who had to be content with a share of second with halfway pacesetter Bae Seon-woo (68) – earned her a cheque for £150,000, along with the prestige of lifting one of her home circuit’s most coveted pieces of silverware, as emphasised by a field boasting three of the world’s top 10.

SOUTHPORT, England – For any players who remain unconvinced that the best way to prepare for The Open is to play the preceding Scottish Open, consider Matt Kuchar a voice of reason. Kuchar, who tied for fourth place last week at Dundonald Links, is playing his 13th Open this week, but even after so many trips around the ancient links, he still found himself relying heavily on last week’s refresher. “We had a couple awfully challenging days there at the Scottish Open,� said Kuchar, who opened with a 65 for a share of the first-round lead at Royal Birkdale. The Open: Full-field scores | Live blog: Day 1 | Full coverage “I remember being on the course at one point on the 12th hole Saturday. I had