Bernhard Langer will have to wait to defend his title in the Senior Open Championship.
The R&A announced Tuesday the championship, scheduled from July 23-26 at Sunningdale Golf Club in England, has been postponed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. A future date has not been selected for the Senior Open.
“We will continue to investigate alternative options to host the Senior Open later in the year if at all possible and will make an announcement in due course,” said executive director Johnnie Cole-Hamilton.
Last week, the R&A cancelled the Open Championship. Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, England, will still host the 2021 Open.
“Our priority is ensuring the health and safety of all players, spectators and sponsors, and it is therefore the right decision to postpone the event,” said Mark Aspland, the head of the European Senior Tour. “We will continue to work closely with the R&A, Rolex and other key stakeholders to reschedule the event at a later date when we have further clarity on the global situation.”
Langer’s win last year was his fourth in the championship.
As for other majors on the senior circuit, the U.S. Senior Open and the Senior PGA Championship were canceled. The Regions Tradition was reschedule from early May to Sept. 24-27. The Senior Players Championship to be played July 9-12 remains on the schedule.