As I sit here thinking about a typical Sunday afternoon watching professional golf from 2 pm – 6 pm that has been taken away from us, I am confused.

Not because I don’t agree with the fact that the PGA and LPGA shouldn’t be playing right now or the seriousness of this pandemic and the need to flatten the curve. It’s because of all the sports that should be virtual right now and isn’t, it’s golf and that is annoying.

The technology is there for a realistic and exciting experience to watch Jordan Speith vs. Ricky Fowler in their respective “bays” somewhere in the world and battling it out in an 18-hole match-play tournament. There could even be a H2H tournament all day Saturday and Sunday with an eventual winner taking the top prize.

With Trackman, Full Swing Golf, and a host of other virtual platforms and technology already in golf, this seems so simple to execute. This would also bring fantasy golf and the betting back into action which automatically brings casual golf fans back to the game.

This is where the PGA seems to typically get in their own way because their thinking is old and tired and if they can’t play on a real course with 175 entries and a four-day event, then let’s not do anything at all.

If you can watch MLB players play “MLB The Show” and NASCAR drivers play a video game version of racing, then why can’t golf fans get the same luxury? In fact, it would be even more realistic because we can see the golfers, they can wear their sponsor’s gear, have a cool set up in their garage or basement and play “real” golf.

The fans would get a unique experience as we could see all the stats in real-time, hear them trash talk the others and watch as they try to match each other shot for shot.

This won’t happen though.

Why?

Because the only certain thing in our world right now is that the PGA is slow to react, slow to respond, and slow to change.

Too bad.

UPDATE MAY 4, 2020: It appears as if at least the European Tour has some creativity and sees this as a way to broadcast some sort of golf…With a little help from TrackMan, the European Tour will broadcast the BMW Indoor Invitational, a virtual golf tournament featuring Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Bernd Wiesberger, Joost Luiten and Mike Lorenzo, all from their homes.

“While the absolute priority for all of us has been, and continues to be, public health and well-being, we also recognize that golf fans are missing watching the leading players compete,” said Rufus Hack, the European Tour’s Chief Content Officer. “Hopefully, the BMW Indoor Invitational powered by TrackMan can help fill the void and provide our fans with some entertainment across the next five weeks whilst also benefiting charities or relief funds which have been so essential in the battle against coronavirus.”

Here’s how it’ll work: Golfers will play five 18-hole, stroke-play tournaments virtually on some of Europe’s most iconic courses. The winner of each event will receive $10,000 to donate to the coronavirus relief effort of their choice.