USGA reacts to coronavirus: Four-balls off; changes to U.S. Open, Women’s Open qualifying

The USGA has taken its first two events off the competition calendar in wake of the coronavirus.

The start of the USGA’s competition calendar is still more than a month away. But as the first scheduled event, the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, draws closer, the organization has joined nearly every other major golf association in reacting to the coronavirus threat.

On Tuesday, the USGA announced it would cancel the Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, scheduled for April 25-29 at Quail Creek Country Club in Naples, Florida, in addition to the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, scheduled for May 23-27 at Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Cricket Club.

Neither event will be rescheduled in 2020.

In addition to those events coming off the calendar, the USGA also announced changes to its qualifying structure for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. Local (or first stage) qualifying in its current form has been canceled. The USGA has said it will now look to redesign the qualifying process going forward as events unfold.

“We will continue to hold the dates for the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club and the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club,” the USGA said in its announcement.

The USGA acknowledged that it was too early to speculate what might happen regarding the remaining championships on the schedule, but that it is working with the CDC, WHO and other federal, state and local authorities to be prepared.

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