Tour takes a bow after negotiating unprecedented season

Come Tuesday morning (Beijing time), a new FedExCup champion will be crowned and win the PGA Tour's ultimate prize. Whether it'll be Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Im Sung-jae or Justin Thomas hoisting the trophy, the eventual winner emerging from this unprecedented season will very much be the game of golf itself.

The Tour Championship is showcasing the finest 30 golfers at Atlanta's East Lake Golf Club as curtain comes down on an extraordinary 2019-20 season many thought would not reach the finish line.

For the tour's bandwagon to arrive at this climatic point, it has required countless hours of toil, meticulous preparation and planning, contingency plans and close collaboration with health experts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic which shut down the sports world in March.

"When you commit to a plan, you commit to a plan because you believe in your heart and you believe based on all the quality people that we have around the table and input we're getting that it's a plan that can sustain us," Jay Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner, said last week.

"I was confident that we had the right plan, but I was uncertain as to whether or not, like everybody else, you'd be able to get to this point."

By the time the first tee shot was struck at East Lake, 176 days had elapsed since the tour canceled The Players Championship and suspended its season.

The early days and weeks of the shutdown were unsettling for Monahan, however a "Return to Golf" plan was quickly put in motion. Some 13 weeks later, tournament golf returned under stringent health and safety measures, with the well-being of the players and everyone involved being the No 1 priority.

There were grave concerns when several players tested positive for COVID-19 in the early weeks, but since August there have been no more positive tests. The tour, though, is not letting its guard down. Golf's successful return has also seen the PGA Tour become a model of best practices for other sports leagues.

The revival of charitable efforts has been just as important as players getting back on the fairways. Impacting communities and the lives of the less privileged where the tour holds its tournaments is part of the organization's DNA.

"As gut-wrenching as that day and the weeks to follow were, as we ultimately canceled or postponed nearly 30 percent of our season, the adaptability, innovation, and collaboration that has brought us to this week is incredibly gratifying." said Monahan.

"It's humbling to think about what has been accomplished with our successful return. It hasn't been perfect, and we're not claiming victory by any stretch. In fact, we continue to learn and adapt.

"We will continue our adaptive work through the fall and into 2021 as we look toward reintroducing pro-ams, corporate partner activations and spectators when we feel it is safe to do so."

One of the key highlights of the Return to Golf has been the introduction of a nine-hole Wednesday Charity Challenge where millions of dollars have since been raised. At East Lake, the Tour Championship's two partners, Coca-Cola and South Company, also continued their support of four local charitable organizations in Atlanta.

"I'm proud to announce that despite a myriad of challenges the event has faced in 2020－no spectators, no corporate hospitality, no pro-am experiences－the Tour Championship is projected to match or exceed last year's record charitable contribution of $3.5 million," said Monahan.

"I think for us, you look at the support we've had from our title sponsors, from our tournament organizations, the fact that our players have generated over $35 million for COVID-19 related charities."

LPGA commissioner Mike Whan hailed Monahan's execution of the Return to Golf on Wednesday, tweeting: "To Commissioner Monahan and the leadership team at@PGATOUR－THANK YOU(!!) for leading us, for sharing with us, and for pushing us. Proud of you and for you."

The players are also thankful to be competing again after enduring three months of inactivity.

"I think it's a testament to everybody involved in the events, everyone on the PGA Tour for supplying everything we need to make sure we're not putting ourselves at risk," said world No 2 Rahm.

"I think for us, you look at the support we've had from our title sponsors, from our tournament organizations, the fact that our players have generated over $35 million for COVID-related charities."

Xander Schauffele said: "In all honesty, not really surprised that we're here. I think our commissioner, Jay Monahan, the whole PGA Tour staff, I think the tour does a lot of really good work. I think we're all very blessed and all the players are just happy to compete."

The writer is senior director of communications for the PGA Tour and is based in Kuala Lumpur.