The PGA Tour announced the cancellation of the WGC-HSBC Champions, which was to be held in Shanghai later this fall.
The Old Tom Morris Cup will remain in Rory McIlroy’s possession for an extra year.
The PGA Tour announced that the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, scheduled for October 29-November 1, has been canceled.
The WGC, which offered a purse of $10.25 million, was expected to be played at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China, but after consultation with the China Golf Association it won’t be held following the recent announcement and guidelines issued by the General Administration of Sports of China with regards to the staging of international sporting events in China.
“We have worked extensively with all Tours, international officials, the China Golf Association and other local parties to find a solution to host the WGC-HSBC Champions,” said Ty Votaw, PGA Tour executive vice president, International, in a press release. “In line with Chinese government guidelines and being mindful of the logistical implications, we collectively made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 event.”
Often referred to as Asia’s major, the HSBC Champions has hosted a WGC since 2009, and dates to 2005. The PGA Tour previously had rescheduled events scheduled for this fall in Korea and Japan to Las Vegas and Los Angeles, respectively. Left unanswered is why the event in China didn’t relocate to the U.S. this year too.
Votaw added: “The WGC-HSBC Champions has been a catalyst in the growth in interest and participation in our sport throughout China and Asia.”
The event becomes the 12th cancellation this year because of the coronavirus, and the first of the 2020-21 season, which kicks off next week at the Safeway Open. The Bermuda Championship, which shared dates with HSBC as an opposite-field event, should be a beneficiary of this decision.
McIlroy claimed the WGC-HSBC Champions last year, and it remains his most recent victory.
