Tag: Volvo China Open

European Tour postpones two events due to coronavirus outbreak

The European Tour has postponed the Maybank Championship and Volvo China Open due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Two more professional golf tournaments scheduled to be played in the Asia-Pacific region have been pushed back from their original dates as concerns over a coronavirus outbreak prompt organizers to put safety first.

The European Tour is the latest organization to be affected. The Tour has announced that the Maybank Championship, due to take place at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from April 16-19, and the Volvo China Open, scheduled for April 23-26, at Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen, have both been postponed.

According to the European Tour site, Maybank, as the title sponsor and promoter of the Maybank Championship, requested a postponement. The decision to postpone the Volvo China Open was made after consultation with tournament stakeholders: the China Golf Association, Genzon Golf Club, Shenzhen Government, title sponsor Volvo and promoters Mitime Golf.

Reschedule discussions are ongoing for both events.

“The well-being of our players, spectators and staff is always our absolute priority,” Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour said. “While it is therefore regrettable that the Maybank Championship and Volvo China Open have been postponed, we feel this is the correct course of action at this time. We are currently investigating alternative dates for both events.”

The LPGA has cancelled three events in the next month – one each in China, Thailand and Singapore – due to coronavirus concerns. The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, originally scheduled for Feb. 20-23 in Thailand, has been postponed and earlier this week, the PGA Tour Series-China announced it would postpone two qualifying events in the region, thus delaying the start of the regular season.

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Coronavirus: What tour officials are doing to protect players, patrons at future Chinese events

With the coronavirus spreading quickly, the global health crisis could have a continued impact on professional golf.

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Friday’s news of both Delta and American Airlines temporarily canceling all flights to China, the first domestic carriers to do so, due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak is just the latest in the developing crisis.

The outbreak has infected nearly 10,000 people and killed more than 200 as of Friday morning. Although all of the deaths and the majority of the infected cases have occurred in China, the virus has spread to more than 20 countries so far, including the United States. With the coronavirus spreading quickly, the global health crisis could have a continued impact on professional golf.

On Wednesday the LPGA canceled the upcoming Blue Bay LPGA, scheduled to be held on China’s Hainan Island on March 5-8.

In less than three months, the European Tour is scheduled to play the Volvo China Open at Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen on April 23-26.

On the Volvo China Open’s future, a spokesperson for the European Tour told Golfweek:

“We are in regular contact with the appropriate Chinese and international authorities to ensure we have the latest health and safety and travel advice. The Volvo China Open from April 23-26 in Shenzhen remains on our schedule, but we are continuing to monitor the situation closely. As with all our tournaments, the well-being of players, spectators and staff remains our absolute priority.”

Later in the year, the European Tour and PGA Tour have the 2020 WGC-HSBC Champions scheduled for Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, while the LPGA is scheduled to play the Buick LPGA Shanghai Oct. 15-18.

The LPGA had this to say on the cancellation of the Blue Bay LPGA:

“Given the current health concerns and significant travel restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus in China, the LPGA along with our partners in China have made the decision to cancel the 2020 Blue Bay LPGA, which was scheduled to take place March 5-8 on Hainan Island. Any time you cancel an event, it is a difficult decision and we appreciate how hard our title partner (Blue Bay), IMG, the China LPGA and the China Golf Association have worked to host an incredible event. The health and safety of our players, fans and everyone working on the event is always our highest priority. While we are disappointed that the tournament won’t take place this season, we look forward to going back to Blue Bay in 2021 and for many years to come.”

While both tours remain committed to their future respective events and the safety of their players and patrons, the consequences of the coronavirus outbreak on the game of golf may just be starting.

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