Golf has seen its calendar decimated by the coronavirus pandemic with a host of high-profile events either postponed or cancelled.
Here, the PA news agency looks in detail at the impact the Covid-19 crisis has had and how the sport intends to resume.
What’s happened to the majors?
The R&A has decided to cancel The Open in 2020 due to the current Covid-19 pandemic. The 149th Open will now be played at Royal St George’s from 11-18 July 2021 and The 150th Open at St Andrews from 10-17 July 2022. Full Statement: https://t.co/iZ3HiU7wwV pic.twitter.com/IoqiEfs8Fu
— The R&A (@RandA) April 6, 2020
The R&A confirmed in April that The Open, due to be played from July 16-19, will not be played this year. Royal St George’s will still host the event in 2021 with St Andrew’s to host in 2022. The three other majors, all played in America, have provisionally rescheduled. The Masters at Augusta will now be played from November 12-15, the PGA Championship at Harding Park is set for August 6-9 while the US Open will be played September 17-20.
What else was cancelled?
Our Commissioner's statement on the decision to cancel THE PLAYERS Championship. pic.twitter.com/nxlgmy5mzI
— THE PLAYERS (@THEPLAYERSChamp) March 13, 2020
On the PGA Tour, Players Championship was the biggest casualty, a decision to scrap the tournament taken after the first round had been completed. Organisers had originally planned to stage the last three rounds behind closed doors at Sawgrass but were forced into a rethink by the rapidly developing situation back when the pandemic was just taking hold. The Tokyo Olympics, featuring men’s and women’s golf tournaments, were postponed and rescheduled for July 23-August 8, 2021.
When is the PGA Tour back?
We are excited to announce that the news is now official with the @PGATOUR: The 74th Charles Schwab Challenge will take place June 8-14 at Colonial without fans. History's what's happening! pic.twitter.com/wsR17j36Vs
— Charles Schwab Challenge (@CSChallengeFW) April 16, 2020
After a lengthy break the PGA Tour will resume on June 8, starting with the Charles Schwab Challenge, RBC Heritage and Travelers Championship. Those events will all be played behind closed doors. Most of the events that were wiped out have been rescheduled for later in the year.
What about the European Tour?
We’re delighted to announce plans for the resumption of the 2020 European Tour season.#GolfForGood
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 28, 2020
The European Tour was suspended on March 8, with a host of events postponed or cancelled. However, it is set to resume on July 22 with six tournaments over six weeks in the United Kingdom, kicking off with the British Masters at Close House. The Scottish Open and PGA Championship have been rearranged for October, with the Nedbank Golf Challenge and World Tour Championship set for December. Other events set for September through to November will be announced in due course.
What is happening in the women’s game?
All five majors are still on as it stands, though four have been rescheduled. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is due to take place in Pennsylvania in October. The Evian Championship in France moved from late July into the week vacated by the postponement of the Olympics and will take place from August 6-9. The US Women’s Open was moved from June to December with the AIG British Open still scheduled for August 20-23 in Troon and the ANA Inspiration in California scheduled for mid-September.
