How the Pandemic Changed the Butterfield Bermuda Championship

Written By Sammy Jo Hinnant

Golf history is full of unexpected turns. Sometimes, they happen on the course. Other times, they happen long before a player ever reaches the first tee.

The Butterfield Bermuda Championship is an example of the latter. What began in 2019 as an alternate-field tournament became a more prominent PGA TOUR event during one of the most unusual periods in professional sports history.

Its rise wasn't the result of decades of tradition or a carefully planned expansion. Instead, it was shaped by canceled tournaments, a changing golf calendar and an opportunity that few could have anticipated.

A New Tournament on the PGA TOUR

The Butterfield Bermuda Championship made its debut in 2019 at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda. It was the first official PGA TOUR event held on the island and was initially scheduled opposite the WGC-HSBC Champions in China.

As an alternate-field event, Bermuda offered players another opportunity to compete, but it wasn't initially positioned among the tour's most prominent tournaments.

The inaugural championship nevertheless made an impression. Brendon Todd, who had experienced a difficult period in his career, delivered an exceptional final round of 62 to win by four strokes. His victory was an early indication that the tournament could produce memorable moments, even without the attention that accompanied some of the tour's larger events.

At the time, there was little reason to expect the tournament's status to change so dramatically in the following year.

The Pandemic Changes the Golf Calendar

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought professional golf to an abrupt halt. The PGA TOUR suspended play, and tournaments around the world faced postponements and cancellations.

When golf resumed that summer, the schedule looked very different. Health restrictions, travel complications and uncertainty about international events forced the tour to make significant adjustments.

One of the affected tournaments was the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai. Its cancellation created an opening in the PGA TOUR schedule, and the Bermuda Championship benefited from the change.

For the 2020 tournament, Bermuda received full FedExCup points, giving it greater significance for players competing during the fall season. A tournament that had originally served as an alternative to a major international event now had a more prominent role of its own.

The change was particularly notable because the Bermuda Championship was still only in its second year.

A Memorable Victory in 2020

The tournament's second edition delivered another story worth remembering.

Brian Gay, a veteran of the PGA TOUR, arrived in Bermuda with four career victories but hadn't won since 2013. After struggling with his form, he found his way into contention during the final round of the 2020 championship.

Wyndham Clark appeared to be in control, but Gay produced a remarkable finish, making birdies down the stretch to force a playoff.

On the 18th hole, Gay made the birdie putt he needed to defeat Clark and claim his fifth PGA TOUR title. At 48, he also became the oldest winner on tour since Davis Love III's 2015 victory at the Wyndham Championship.

Gay's win gave the young tournament another memorable champion and demonstrated that its elevated place on the schedule could produce meaningful competition.

From a Temporary Opportunity to an Established Event

The changes didn't end in 2020.

The WGC-HSBC Champions was again unable to take place in 2021, and Bermuda continued to receive full FedExCup points. Lucas Herbert won that year's championship in challenging weather, adding another international name to the tournament's growing list of champions.

In 2022, the Chinese event was canceled for a third consecutive year. Bermuda once again occupied an important position on the fall schedule.

During those three seasons, the tournament had an opportunity to establish itself. Its champions included Brian Gay, Lucas Herbert and Seamus Power, each bringing a different story to the event.

The tournament continued beyond the circumstances that initially elevated it. Camilo Villegas won in 2023, Rafael Campos claimed his first PGA TOUR title in 2024, and Adam Schenk won in 2025.

The changing golf calendar helped create the opportunity, but the tournament's continued presence became a story of its own.

Why Bermuda?

The setting is an important part of the championship's identity.

Port Royal Golf Course was already an established golf destination long before the PGA TOUR arrived. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, the course opened in 1970 and is known for its coastal scenery, elevation changes and exposure to the Atlantic.

Its signature 16th hole, a par three overlooking the ocean, offers a particularly memorable challenge. The wind can dramatically affect club selection and ball flight, making the course a different experience from many inland tournament venues.

For professional golfers, Bermuda presents a combination of beautiful scenery and unpredictable conditions. The island's golf and tourism industries also benefit from the international attention that comes with hosting a PGA TOUR event.

The championship has developed into more than a temporary replacement on the schedule. It has become an established stop on the tour's fall calendar, bringing professional golf to an island with a longstanding connection to the game.

A Different Kind of Golf History

The Butterfield Bermuda Championship offers an interesting reminder that golf history isn't always shaped by major championships or legendary courses. Sometimes, it is shaped by unexpected circumstances and the people who make the most of them.

The pandemic changed the professional golf calendar in ways that nobody could have anticipated. For Bermuda, those changes created an opportunity to move beyond its original role as an alternate-field event.

What followed was a series of memorable champions and a lasting place on the PGA TOUR schedule.

To hear the full story, including the tournament's early years, its unexpected rise during the pandemic and the players who helped establish its identity, listen to Episode 15 of Under Par Over Time.

Listen to Under Par Over Time wherever you get your podcasts, and follow the show so you don't miss future episodes.

A Note About the Podcast Schedule

Beginning in October 2026, Under Par Over Time will release one episode per month through February 2027. The show will return to two monthly releases in March 2027.

This seasonal schedule allows the podcast to follow the golf calendar while making room for the newest season of Legacy Lore: True Crime & Ancestral Secrets, another independently produced podcast from Saraceni & Co Productions. The network also includes Auntie Jo Jo's Library, featuring stories and history for children and adults.

Although the release schedule is changing temporarily, Under Par Over Time isn't going away. There will still be a new episode every month through February, with twice-monthly releases returning in March.

Follow the podcast on your preferred listening platform to stay up to date with new episodes.

Sources and Further Reading

Sammy Jo Hinnant
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