Pro Golf Tours, Governing Bodies Present Revised Calendar of Events for 2020

Three of the PGA TOUR’s four major championships have now been officially rescheduled for future 2020 dates, as the major professional tours and golf’s lead governing bodies released a joint statement Monday addressing the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on their operations.

Aside from The R&A’s formal cancellation of The Open Championship for 2020, The PGA TOUR has confirmed new dates for each of its remaining three majors including the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park (Aug. 3-9), U.S. Open at Winged Foot (Sept. 14-20), and The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club (Nov. 9-15).

United in focusing on what still may be possible this year for the world of professional golf, and in the best interests of the entire global golfing community, Augusta National Golf Club, European Tour, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA released the following joint statement:

“This is a difficult and challenging time for everyone coping with the effects of this pandemic. We remain very mindful of the obstacles ahead, and each organization will continue to follow the guidance of the leading public health authorities, conducting competitions only if it is safe and responsible to do so.

“In recent weeks, the global golf community has come together to collectively put forward a calendar of events that will, we hope, serve to entertain and inspire golf fans around the world.  We are grateful to our respective partners, sponsors and players, who have allowed us to make decisions – some of them, very tough decisions – in order to move the game and the industry forward.

“We want to reiterate that Augusta National Golf Club, European Tour, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA collectively value the health and well-being of everyone, within the game of golf and beyond, above all else. We encourage everyone to follow all responsible precautions and make effort to remain healthy and safe.”

Each organization has offered their own updates below, along with links to where more information is available:

USGA

Formerly set for June 15-21 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, the U.S. Open has been officially moved to September 14-20 and will remain at Winged Foot. For more information and comments from USGA CEO Mike Davis, click here.

The R&A

The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled The R&A to cancel The Open Championship for 2020, and to bring The Open back for 2021 at this year’s originally planned venue, Royal St. George’s. The 2020 event was scheduled to be played in Kent, England, from July 12-19, but The R&A was compelled to cancel based on guidance from the British Government, health authorities, public services and The R&A’s advisers. For more information and a statement from The R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers, click here.

PGA of America

The PGA of America confirmed today that the PGA Championship will now be contested August 3-9 and will remain at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California.  The event was formerly scheduled for May 11-17 but was forced into postponement on March 17.

Furthermore, the PGA reconfirmed that the Ryder Cup will be played as originally scheduled for September 22-27 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.  For more information and comments from Seth Waugh, PGA of America CEO, click here.

Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta National has established November 9-15 as the intended dates for hosting the 2020 Masters Tournament, previously scheduled for April 6-12 and postponed on March 13. For more information and a statement from The Masters Chairman Fred Ridley, click here.

PGA TOUR

As it worked with the PGA of America to find a viable date for the PGA Championship in August, the PGA TOUR coordinated with its host organizations and title sponsors to move its Regular Season-ending event, the Wyndham Championship, and all three FedExCup Playoffs events back one week. This sequence of events is now set to begin the week of August 10 and wrap up with a Labor Day finish of Monday, September 7 for the TOUR Championship.

The TOUR seeks to reschedule tournaments into the weeks formerly occupied by the U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the Men’s Olympic golf competition in June and July.  The TOUR will issue further statements about this possibility, and its fall schedule, in the coming weeks.  For more information and comments from PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan, click here.

European Tour

Given the many intricacies involved, the European Tour is currently exploring various scenarios for rescheduling its 2020 season tournaments, and will make further announcements on these decisions as developments dictate.

LPGA

On April 3, the LPGA released a revised calendar for the LPGA Tour’s 2020 summer schedule, starting the week of June 15 with the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G. Furthermore, the LPGA Tour announced the successful rescheduling of its first two majors of the year: the ANA Inspiration will now be held the week of September 7 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California; and the U.S. Women’s Open conducted by the USGA is now scheduled for the week of December 7 at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas). For more information, click here.

Source: PGATour.com