Champ Makes Statement on Racial Justice as BMW Championship Begins

The event has no spectators but Champ had a gallery Thursday that included PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan for the last few holes of his opening nine holes. Monahan was tracing developments Wednesday night when the N.B.A. did not play three playoff games, and other sports soon followed. Postponing the BMW Championship, even for a day, did not appear to be part of the conversation.

Woods said he was in touch with Monahan on whether to play and “all the guys were on board.”

“Obviously, there was talk about it because of what happened,” Woods said. “But we’re all on board, on the same page.”

The PGA Tour released a statement before the round began that it supported the “player-led, peaceful, powerful ways” the other leagues — N.B.A., M.L.B., soccer, W.N.B.A. and women’s tennis — sought to bring about change.

“The PGA Tour supports them — and any of our own members — standing up for issues they believe in,” the statement said.

The tour said in June, after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, that it was committed to racial equity and inclusion in the cities where it plays and would increase support for national movements. Monahan and golfer Justin Varner, who is Black, participated in a video discussion on race, after Varner posted to social media a description of his experiences growing up as a Black golfer in Gastonia, N.C.

The protests hit home to Tony Finau, who is of Tongan and Samoan descent, and has talked about facing discrimination because of the color of his skin. His cousin is Sacramento Kings forward Jabari Parker.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/sports/golf/cameron-champ-bmw-championship.html