Two majors postponed, more PGA Tour events cancelled

No sooner had the PGA of America announced the postponement of the PGA Championship to join the Masters in being postponed due to fears over the Coronavirus pandemic, the PGA Tour followed 30-minutes later to advise the cancellation of a further four regular season events.

The year’s second Major was due to be staged from May 14-17 on the TPC Harding course in San Francisco.

Koepka with the 2019 PGA Championship trophy (Credit: PGA Tour)

And in the statement released by the PGA of America it was revealed they have been liaising with the PGA Tour for an alternate venue and that could very well be TPC Sawgrass – host to last week’s cancelled Players Championship.

“Throughout our evaluation process, we have been committed to following the guidance of public health authorities and given the coronavirus shelter-in-place order in effect in San Francisco, postponement is the best decision for all involved,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh.

“This is a reflection of a thoughtful process,” Waugh added. “We are and have been working in concert with Commissioner Jay Monahan and our partners and friends at the PGA TOUR to find an alternative date that works for all. We are all very hopeful for a great outcome.”

“We are also in dialogue with Mayor Breed and her team at the City of San Francisco and look forward to hopefully bringing the 2020 PGA Championship to TPC Harding Park at a date this summer when it is once again safe and responsible to do so.”

News of the postponement of two of the four majors comes less than a week after the Masters announcement it was postponing next month of the staging of the 84th Masters.

Current World No. 3 Brooks Koepka is the defending PGA Champion.

And within 30-minutes of the PGA of America’s statement, the PGA Tour announced the cancellation of four further events on the 2019/20 wraparound schedule.

Under recommendations from the Centres for Disease Control, the World Health Organisation and the Office of the President of the United States, the Tour has now cancelled the RBC Heritage (April 13-19); Zurich Classic of New Orleans (April 20-26); Wells Fargo Championship (April 27-May 3); and AT&T Byron Nelson (May 4-10).

This brings to eight events the Tour has now cancelled with June’s US Open at Winged Foot now in strong doubt.