The LPGA has announced that it is further delaying its season in the wake of the coronavirus. The tour most recently postponed its first major of the year, the ANA Inspiration, in addition to two more domestic events. Now, the LPGA has informed its players that three more domestic events will be postponed: the Lotte Championship in Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii (April 15-18), the Hugel-Air Premia L.A. Open in Los Angeles (April 23-26) and the LPGA Mediheal Championship in Daly City, California (April 30-May 3).
But the LPGA also sent some good news on Friday morning. The ANA Inspiration has been rescheduled for Sept. 10-13 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. The Cambia Portland Classic in Portland, Oregon, which had previously been scheduled for those dates, will now take place Sept. 17-20.
LPGA commissioner Mike Whan informed his players of the changes with a personal letter in which he wrote that he and the tour had held out on postponement of those next events as long as they could – hoping the situation would improve. He told his players “you deserve better,” and also noted that he had made a promise to himself not to send any more cancellations without also sending positive news, hence the rescheduling of the ANA Inspiration.
“The truth is, every time I think we’ve made a plan to address changes, it never seems to be ‘long enough,’” he wrote. “I wish I could tell you when the LPGA Tour will resume our schedule, but the truth is, no one has those answers. Virtually all our events are concerned given the conditions they currently face in their respective markets. At this point, the only option is to reschedule what we can and hope the COVID-19 situation starts to improve. Trust me, patience is NOT my best quality, so this situation is hard on me, too.”
Whan also filmed a message of encouragement for social media this week, in which he spoke directly to fans and sponsors.
ICYMI – A message from @LPGACommish Mike Whan to our fans, sponsors, partners and athletes 👇 pic.twitter.com/F9L8Z1e2r8
— LPGA (@LPGA) March 19, 2020
LPGA players are in the unique position of also having lost three international events in February and March that were to be played in the Asia Pacific region. The LPGA has arguably been hit harder than many professional tours by the coronavirus. Nine consecutive events have now been canceled or postponed.
The next event on the Tour’s schedule is the Pelican Women’s Championship, to be played May 14-17 in Belleair, Florida. It would be a first-year event. The PGA Championship was scheduled to take place that weekend in San Francisco, however, and already has been postponed.
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