European Ryder Cup captain, Padraig Harrington isn’t the only one striving to keep motivated from his Dublin backyard as the world continues to self-isolate from Coronavirus.
In sun-splashed Florida, Justin Thomas shot a Bear’s Club 65 and ‘got smoked’ by Rickie Fowler while up in North Carolina, Chesson Hadley took his two young children to the beach to escape confinement.
On the elite Lake Nona estate in suburban Orlando, you’ll find Ian Poulter in a room of his palatial abode behind the wheel of an ultra-impressive wall-to-wall F1 video game simulator while Open champ, Henrik Stenson is a little more active in contemplating cleaning-up his garage beside his smiling wife, Emma who insists all will be well ‘as long he keeps out of the kitchen.’
And if all that wasn’t enough, Dutchman Joost Luiten and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger are showing their improvised golf club skills in juggling toilet rolls off a wedge in the now worldwide #stayathomechallenge
Golfers passing the time, featuring @joostluiten ? pic.twitter.com/G4D5BrEDnv
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 15, 2020
Not since World War II has the world faced such a global shutdown and golf’s top players are doing their best to stay occupied.
Harrington’s posted three short-game videos, two outside in his backyard and one inside and wearing socks, demonstrating to the golfers among us that there’s ample scope to work on your game, even from home.
A little bit of a chipping lesson. Thanks to my son for video work. More to follow but limited to 220 seconds on Twitter here. @EuropeanTour @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/uzoTyGdn0i
— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) March 16, 2020
Thomas and Fowler are members of the ultra-exclusive Bear’s Club and in lieu of not teeing-up in the final round of the Players Championship, they arranged a social game.
Thomas tweeted: “Nice playing with Rickie Fowler today, really a lot of fun. I shoot 65 (humble brag I know) and get smoked. Mid-season off season is going well.”
Hadley meanwhile is keeping busy spending quality time with son Hughes and daughter Hollins on the Atlantic Ocean shoreline.
“Also, what do you do when they postpone the PGA Tour season? You go swimming in the frigid Atlantic. Well, me and Hughes got all the way in, sweet Hollins realized how cold it was about knee high!”
And Phil Mickelson, who turns 50 on June 16th, two days prior to the intended start of the U.S. Open, will be home hoping the tournament is not cancelled as it remains the one Major he needs to join golf’s ultra-exclusive ‘Grand Slam Club’.
‘Lefty’ posted a tweet saying: “After arriving home safely and with a month off, I could sense things were going to go one way or the other. I was either going to use this time to work-out, get fit and stronger or I was going to lay in bed, watch shows and eat. After day 1, the latter is in the lead.”
And on a more serious note, Graeme McDowell tweeted on behalf of his two Nona Blue restaurants, after the US Government issued guidelines on the role of restaurants during the Coronavirus pandemic.
“In a time when responsibility is paramount, both Nona Blue restaurants are doing what they can. Here’s our statement, thanks for all the support and stay safe.”
The Nona Blue statement advised that they will continue to remain open in a ‘limited capacity’ and detailed to patrons and staff alike the steps they’re taking to combat the virus.
This truly is a crazy time and a reminder that the world has never been smaller. At least we know we’re all in this together and there’s comfort to be found in that.
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