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Five months later, measure of normalcy at Masters in April

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)AUGUSTA, Ga. – The record score at Augusta National wasn't all that set Dustin Johnson apart from other Masters champions. No other Masters champion was allowed to keep his green jacket for only five months before it was time to try to win it again. Augusta National is blazing with pink and red and purple azaleas, accented by the white blooms of dogwood. Ad“I think it will be back to feeling like a normal Masters,” Johnson said. Augusta National had no choice but to keep the spectators away in November because of the pandemic, just like the other majors last year.

Better than most? One putt on the 17th that actually was

“I was standing on the wood at the back left of the green, right when you walk up there, just off the green,” Allenby said. A PGA Tour digital media specialist recently reviewed the entire broadcast and said it was never shown. One person who saw it was PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, who had been returning from a meet-and-greet and paused to watch Allenby putt. MICKELSON 101Eight regular PGA Tour events did not have corporate sponsors in their title names. The British Open was not considered an official PGA Tour victory.

Super distancing: CBS keeps season protocols for big game

(AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)Jim Nantz and Tony Romo were inseparable when CBS broadcast the Super Bowl two years ago. Keeping announcers separated until game day has been CBS' protocol this season. “Super Bowl Today” pregame host James Brown and CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus won’t get there until Thursday, while sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson arrives Friday. CBS isn't the only network that has modified its Super Bowl week plans. ESPN and NFL Network usually begin coverage from where the big game is held the Sunday before and when the teams usually arrive.

Johnson joins Masters lead after round of record scoring

The opening round was delayed nearly three hours at the start by heavy rain, and with limited daylight in November, there was no way to complete the round. Greg Norman still holds the record for lowest opening round, a 63 in 1996, the year he lost a six-shot lead to Nick Faldo in the final round. There were 53 rounds under par in the 92-man field and 24 rounds in the 60s, both Masters records for any round. The previous mark was 47 rounds under par in the second round of 1992 (83-man field). This is his fifth Masters, and not only his lowest score, but the first time he has shot par or better in the opening round.

'I'm so sick of this' Mickelson in second-to-last at US Open

But instead of walking off in second place, the way he did in 2006, he headed to the clubhouse Thursday in 142nd, tied for second-to-last at the U.S. Open. “I'm 9 over,” Mickelson said in discussing his plans for Friday. There were no fans because of the COVID pandemic that pushed this U.S. Open back three months. "Look, I’m 50, my career is what it is,” he said in a Golf Channel interview earlier in the week. “I'm so sick of this,” he said as he bent over in disgust.

Paul Casey tuned in for more than golf in PGA Tour's return

Casey watched plenty on TV, and he was watching more than the golf. PAIRINGS WITH A PURPOSEThe PGA Tour has four groups of featured pairings for its PGA Tour Live," and then the rest of the field is supposed to be relatively random depending on a player's category. Oak Hill last hosted the PGA Championship in 2013 won by Jason Dufner, while Tiger Woods won his fourth PGA Championship at Southern Hills in 2007. DIVOTSHilton Head has some of the smallest greens on the PGA Tour, and Abraham Ancer hit 65 out of 72 of them in his runner-up finish. FINAL REBUTTALFascinating stuff. CBS analyst Nick Faldo, watching Koepka tee off on the 18th hole and telling viewers he would listen to what Koepka had to say.

CBS pushing for players to do their part to boost broadcast

FORT WORTH, Texas FORT WORTH, TexasJim Nantz will be alone in the broadcast booth when the PGA Tour resumes its schedule Thursday. In announcing the broadcast and productions plans for the return to golf, CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said the network would have what Nantz dubbed a confession cam." McManus also said the network has been working more aggressively to have players wear microphones, and that CBS already has received commitments from some players. If you had a chance to hear from 30 players in the field, you can't imagine what a difference that could make to our broadcast. And he'll be calling action at an event with no spectators, a policy of the PGA Tour for five straight tournaments until the Memorial on July 16-19.

Athletes team up to raise money for people affected by coronavirus

More than 60 athletes are helping to raise money for COVID-19 relief. The biggest names in sports are coming together to raise money and awareness for COVID-19 relief. Sports agency Octagon has launched a fundraising tool Athletes for Relief to provide a place for all athletes to help support those most in need. Big Papi is doing his part to raise money for Athletes for Relief. The goal is to involve all athletes, Schwab says.

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