CROMWELL, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—At the TPC River Highlands, the Travelers Championship kicked off its 2021 tournament with hundreds of fans surrounding the green, welcoming them back after the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to stay home last year.
With about 10,000 people scheduled to be on site per day, according to Senior Director of Strategy & Partnerships Tara Gerber, numerous guidelines have been put in place to promote health and safety.
Per the guidelines, fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask indoors or outdoors while unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear a mask at all times.
Cleaning procedures were heightened for the tournament, including frequent cleaning at high-touch locations and increased hand sanitizing stations. Face masks, hand sanitizers and wipes were made available for spectators upon arrival. Several interactions have also been made contactless, including ticketing and payment.
Social distancing was also heavily encouraged. Many fans and volunteers steered clear of the big crowds while at the TPC River Highlands Thursday, including two spectators that said they felt pretty safe because of the open space and the COVID-19 vaccine.
Some volunteers chose certain spots on the golf course where the big crowds, for the most part, did not gather.
Practically all of the spectators present Thursday did not wear masks. A longtime volunteer kept her distance from the larger crowds, but she said she loved seeing everyone back.
Many fans at the championship Thursday said they were happy to be back at the TPC River Highlands after a long and difficult year. For some, it felt almost as if life had returned to normal.
Visit the Travelers Championship leaderboard to get the latest on the tournament.
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