#PGA Tour stars: Playing in front of no fans will be a ‘little weird’

FORT WORTH, Texas — Consider this scenario, as presented by Jon Rahm while talking about the bizarre dynamic the PGA Tour players are facing at this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge with no spectators permitted at Colonial Country Club:

“Can you imagine if somebody makes a 30-foot bomb on 18 to win the tournament?’’ Rahm asked. “Nothing? Crickets?”

Indeed, that’s the sound players will hear — or not hear — all week whenever they execute a great shot, a long birdie putt, a chip-in, a hole-out from the fairway or even a hole-in-one.

“It’s going to be a little weird,’’ Rahm said. “I was joking with somebody, it would almost be better if they had like the Rickie Fowler commercial, just have speakers on every green, and if you hit a good shot just press ‘play’ and you hear something and then you move on.’’

Rahm’s concept is an interesting one and not completely off the reservation. The German soccer league, the Bundesliga, which is playing matches without fans in the stands, is piping in recordings of home fans’ chants during matches and even increasing the volume when there’s a scoring opportunity in an effort to replicate spectator sounds.

Nathan Grube, the tournament director of the Travelers Championship, which is the third of the first four PGA Tour events being played without fans, proposed an idea to have a long video board along the 18th fairway with hundreds of fans in Zoom boxes making noise during the tournament. That idea didn’t make the cut because of cost and setup issues.

So, for the moment on the PGA Tour, crickets will have to do.

“The atmosphere will definitely be different,’’ Justin Thomas said. “But then again, everything is different than what we’ve been used to the last three months. I would say that every single person in this field would gladly say that they would rather be playing without fans than wait and play with fans, if that means it’s a couple weeks sooner.’’

One of the funny things to watch once play gets underway with Thursday’s opening round is how the players will react to their own great shots. Many of them, so used to the fans cheering good shots, surely will find themselves instinctively tipping their cap or raising an arm.

Will we see Phil Mickelson, known for his signature thumbs-up gestures reacting to fans’ adulation, accidentally throw a few thumbs-up to silence?

“I’m sure you’ll see guys dropping putts and they put their hand up and realize there’s nobody there,’’ Kevin Na, the defending champion here, said Wednesday. “Yeah, this is very different for us. We’re not used to playing without fans. The golf course looks empty. I mean, obviously it is empty. It’s such a different look without grandstands and fans.

“I think the players are not going to be as pumped up in some situations because of that, because of the atmosphere, but I think once you tee it up and you’re focused, you’re still going to feel a little bit of the jitters and you’re still going to be so focused and into it you kind of forget about it. We’re disappointed there’s no fans, and we hope to get to have fans soon.’’

Harold Varner III said he’s OK without the noise and fanfare as long as he’s playing well.

“For the amount of money they’re playing for and kind of what we stand for, it’s kind of easy to get up for,’’ Varner said. “If I make a putt to win, I don’t really care if anyone is there, to be honest with you. It’s going to be weird, but we don’t have the option if it’s weird or not weird. It’s our job to make the best of the situation, because we could all be sitting at home right now talking about who knows what.’’

Dustin Johnson said he figures “it’s going to remind me a lot like junior golf except without the TV cameras following behind you.’’

“It’s just going to have to be something we adjust to,’’ Johnson said. “It’s going to be different. There’s not going to be as much energy, especially out there on a Sunday if you’re around the lead coming down the stretch. But it’s still a big tournament.

“We’re still playing for the exact same thing we were before, and there [are] a lot of people watching. I still think you’re still going to be nervous, you’re still going to get those juices flowing coming — especially on Sunday — coming down the stretch. But yeah, it’ll definitely be weird. There won’t be any noise out there.’’

Said Rahm: “As different as it will be for us, it shouldn’t be any different for the fans at home. We’re going to put on the best show possible.’’

Let the show begin.