WGC-Dell Match Play: Officials place added security measures this year

*Originally published by the Austin American-Statesman*

While the city of Austin is on high alert after the recent series of explosions, officials with the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play are confident in the security measures in place for the week.

PGA Tour officials do not comment on specifics surrounding security, but they assured the public in a statement that “the safety and security of (our) players and fans is, and always will be, our top priority.”

Tour security advisers are working in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to monitor, review and evaluate the situation and implement security procedures as needed, the statement added.

Since March 2, there have been four package bomb explosions in Austin, three previously in east Austin and a fourth in southwest Austin on Sunday night. A fifth package exploded at a FedEx distribution center in Schertz early Tuesday morning.

“Like the rest of the city, we are on very high alert,” said Jason Cumins, a lieutenant with the Austin Police Department’s special events unit. “We do have added security this year. There will be APD presence or security here 24/7 keeping an eye on everything.”

Dogs have swept the grounds each morning in past years of the event, but this year they will be present throughout the day to respond as necessary. The APD also has patrols on Lake Austin and are monitoring packages that come on to the grounds.

“These are not normal circumstances,” Cumins said. “And we are not treating them like normal circumstances. If anybody makes a scene or anything happens, APD is going to be there quickly.”

Crowds were thin during Tuesday’s practice rounds as there was limited access to the grounds. Players walked freely outside the ropes and were only bothered for the occasional autograph or photo. But as the week progresses and crowds get larger, law enforcement will be increasingly present.

Players have been asked all week about their thoughts surrounding the recent events, but England’s Paul Casey said he isn’t concerned about his safety while at the course.

“I have no worries,” Casey said. “There’s trouble around the world. I’ve never been one for stressing about things. … I’ve got more worry about people crashing into me, too busy texting on their phones on the way to the golf course than to worry about something like that.”

The bag policy for the week will remain unchanged and is consistent with what the PGA Tour uses on a weekly basis — no opaque bags larger than small, hand-held clutches are permitted, but clear plastic bags no larger than 12-by-6-by-12 are allowed. That policy is similar to the clear bag policy that was implemented by the University of Texas in 2017. Fans are also checked at the gates with metal detector wands before entering the grounds.

“You just hope that whatever is happening is obviously dealt with as quickly as possible,” Jordan Spieth said. “But that’s why there are specialists and people that have taken care of these kind of situations in the past all over the world. So trust for them to get the job done as soon as possible.”