Live sport

I felt very fortunate this week as the UK and large chunks of Europe go back into lockdown I was lucky enough to be outside watching live professional sport.

The Bermuda PGA Championship has been taking place this week at Port Royal Golf Course and ends today in what will be an exciting finish.

The Bermuda Championship is the first PGA event since March to allow spectators. The numbers were limited, and there were many restrictions, but it was a small price to pay for being outside watching professional athletes in the flesh.

There was a pre-health questionnaire, and thermal screening on entry. Once in the grounds a mask had to worn at all times, except when sat down eating or drinking, which was limited to certain dedicated areas. Social distancing was carefully managed by polite stewards and there was plenty of signage and hand sanitation zones.

There was also to be no interaction with the 132 players and the spectator ropes were much further back than normal. In past Bermuda PGA events they were notable because of how relaxed players appeared and how they mingled happily with the crowd.

Still, it was a joy to be outside on a couple of sunny but blustery days, in fact scratch that Friday was almost tempestuous. Although a little less so in the corporate areas than the 16th 😊 🍺.

Port Royal has some stunning vistas and runs for 7,000 yards hugging the Atlantic Ocean. The 16th is it’s most photographed hole sat precariously atop of craggy cliffs, and the winds added to the challenge.

Bermuda has long tried to embed itself as an outside sports location of choice. The Americas Cup in 2017 showed that the island was more than capable of holding a prestigious world ranking event, and likewise with the World Triathlon a year later.

Also being played here at the moment, but behind closed doors, is the newly formed World Rugby Ten’s tournament with the first in a series of global contests being played at the island’s National Sports Centre. The games are all live on Sky Sports and ESPN.

Spectators this past week were also welcome, albeit harbourside, to watch the 70th running of the King Edward VII Gold Cup sailing race which just finished.