Triple, eagle highlight Rory McIlroy’s topsy-turvy start to TOUR Championship

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People travel from all over the world to experience the natural beauty of Bermuda’s pink-sand beaches and scenic ocean views. Protecting this natural environment is crucial for not only it’s tourism-based economy, but also for the health and well-being of its 64,000 residents. Being that the small island nation is only 21 total square miles and located 653 miles from the nearest mainland, everyone must be considerate of their impact. Large events must be especially thoughtful of the waste they generate. This is certainly the case for the PGA TOUR’s official stop on the island, the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. The tournament is committed to being intentional and responsible with all aspects of the event, which this year has implemented several new and innovative sustainability solutions. The tournament, however, isn’t accomplishing this alone. “Collaboration and partnership with local leaders have been key to all of our sustainability progress,” said Danielle Baiunco, Tournament Director of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. “Guidance from Keep Bermuda Beautiful, the Ministry of Public Works, and support from our Sustainability Partner, Aspen Bermuda Limited, have made this all possible.” The sustainability program starts with a significant reduction of single-use plastic used throughout Port Royal Golf Course during the week. Ticket holders are encouraged to bring their own reusable bottles and the tournament will be giving away bottles to the first 500 fans each day courtesy of Aspen Bermuda Limited. Water stations will be positioned around the course so spectators can refill their bottles and concession stands will serve drinks in reusable cups rather than single-use plastic. All Butterfield Bermuda Championship volunteers will also be provided a reusable bottle and 90 percent of the polo shirt they will be wearing is made from recycled plastic. In addition to reducing plastic on site, the tournament is focused on recycling the items accepted on the island. Through collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, the tournament has adopted a TAG – tin, aluminum, glass – recovery program. Bins will be placed throughout the golf course to separate these items from general waste, ensuring that they can be correctly processed at the local recycling facility. Tin and aluminum are sold for a small return, but the Ministry of Public Works has innovated the re-use of its recycled glass. With the help of a machine that crushes the glass into various grades, the facility is able to provide a permeable drainage solution for construction projects on the island, namely used under the grass-playing surface of sporting fields and golf courses. “It is so cool to know that glass from our event will be turned into something else used on the island,” Baiunco said. “Promoting circularity and re-use is one of our main goals.” All other general tournament waste will be disposed of at Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Facility, where an incinerator converts waste to energy. This facility generates produces enough energy to power 10 percent of Bermuda’s residential dwellings, or 3,000 homes. To reduce paper waste, the tournament has also moved to digital tickets, pairings guides, and course map. These items that were printed in previous years will be accessible via smartphone and QR code in 2022. Throughout the year, the tournament works with Keep Bermuda Beautiful to ensure that the areas of the island that were directly impacted by the tournament are maintained and that the Butterfield Bermuda Championship is doing all it can to minimize its environmental footprint. “We are still at the beginning of our sustainability journey, but we are proud of the strides we have been able to make this year,” Baiunco said. Through an honest and thoughtful approach, the tournament hopes to set sustainability standards that can be followed by sporting events held in Bermuda and other golf tournaments around the world.

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When Webb Simpson came home to Charlotte after THE PLAYERS Championship was canceled on March 12, he could already see the hospitality structures starting to take shape at Quail Hollow Club. Five days later, Simpson learned that the Wells Fargo Championship, which would have been played this week, would become one of nine PGA TOUR events and one major championship shuttered in the wake of the coronavirus. “It is very strange,â€� Simpson says. “I mean, it was sad to realize the Wells Fargo wasn’t happening. I love that golf tournament for so many reasons. Being a member, living there, I know the hard work they put into the event.â€� This would have been a busy week for Simpson. He would have appeared at the clinic his caddie, Paul Tesori, hosts for special needs youngsters. There likely would have been activities with some of his sponsors, too. Oh, and of course, golf at a tournament he’d dearly love to win. Now, though, Simpson looks ahead to June when the TOUR tentatively plans to return to golf at the Charles Schwab Challenge. This is already the longest break he’s taken from the game since his rookie year in 2009. Obviously, staying safe and healthy during this pandemic is of paramount importance. And for Simpson, so is helping those affected by the coronavirus – which is why he’s created a sweepstakes for a round of golf with him at Pinehurst No. 2 for the Chipping In COVID-19 Charity Relief Golf Auction. At the same time, the six-time TOUR champ is trying to maintain the competitive edge that saw him beat Tony Finau in a playoff at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and post three other top-10 finishes in five starts this season. “Even though it’s definitely like another off-season I wasn’t expecting, I don’t want to lose any momentum that I’ve had,â€� explains Simpson, who ranks fifth in the FedExCup. “I’m still working out as much. I’m still doing my mental stuff. I’m still playing golf. “I’m still doing these things that I was doing before, but obviously mentally I know that I’m not going to be teeing it up in competition for a while.â€� The home gym helps. So does the availability of the practice facilities at Quail Hollow, which Simpson says is in “awesome shape.â€� But he’s taking North Carolina’s stay-at-home order seriously, and there are five kids under the age of 9 – a son and four daughters – to keep Simpson and his wife Dowd busy there. Simpson and Dowd talked about the uncertainty they felt as they drove home from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, that Friday in March after THE PLAYERS was canceled. They realized they could rely on each other, as well as their strong faith, to get them through these unsettled times. Simpson says the couple has been as honest as possible with their children, given their tender ages, about why the coronavirus has altered life as we all knew it. “They’re pretty in tune with it,â€� he says. “We’re watching the news and we always want to tell them what’s going on, you know, without scaring them. But I don’t think they know the extent of like how global it is and how widespread it is.â€� Dowd has home-schooled their children in the past so transitioning to at-home learning again hasn’t been as much of a challenge as it might have been. The key, Simpson says, is sticking to a schedule that allows time for reading, writing, arithmetic and creative activities, as well as rest, play and other outdoor pursuits. “We just kind of made up our minds we’ve got to stick to that as best we can and that’s going to help our kids do better,â€� Simpson says. “… Thankfully, living on the golf course is nice because we can walk around. I took them to play golf yesterday to hit balls on the range. “So, I guess I’m definitely more PE than instructional. Like when it comes to reading, writing or any subjects, she’s way better.â€� The added time with his family has been the silver lining in the overlying cloud of uncertainty for the 2012 U.S. Open champion. “I’m just never home for this amount of time in a row,â€� Simpson says. “And so, it’s nice, you know, being at the dinner table every night and breakfast table every morning and then not saying goodbye to the kids on a Sunday night heading to a tournament.â€� That is, until June rolls around.

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