SPORT / GOLF
Asia’s flagship WGC-HSBC Champions canceled because of virus
Next month's World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, won last year by Rory McIlroy, has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers said Wednesday.
Asia's flagship event, which in 2019 had the largest prize fund of any tournament outside the US or majors at $10.25 million, is co-sanctioned by the US PGA, European Tours and Asian Tours.
It had been scheduled to take place from October 29 to November 1 at Sheshan International Golf Club and was the final stop on the PGA Tour's $29.75 million three-tournament Asian swing. But the trio of events, the highlight of Asia's golf calendar, have been wiped off the continent by the coronavirus after South Korea's CJ Cup and Japan's Zozo Championship were relocated to courses in the US.
All international sports competitions in China, except Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic test events, have been canceled for at least the rest of this year because of the pandemic.
Past winners of the prestigious event in Shanghai include current world No.1 Dustin Johnson, five-time major winner Phil Mickleson, double Masters champion Bubba Watson and Olympic gold medallist Justin Rose.
The $9.75 million Zozo Championship on October 22-25, launched last year and memorably won by Tiger Woods for a record-equalling 82nd PGA Tour victory, was moved Tuesday from Chiba near Tokyo to Thousands Oaks, California.
The CJ Cup, which last year also carried a mammoth prize fund of $9.75 million, had already been shifted from Nine Bridges in Jeju Island to Shadow Creek in Las Vegas to be played on October 15-18.
The WGC-HSBC Champions follows the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, also in Shanghai, and all of China's WTA and ATP tennis tournaments being canceled this year.
Asia's flagship event, which in 2019 had the largest prize fund of any tournament outside the US or majors at $10.25 million, is co-sanctioned by the US PGA, European Tours and Asian Tours.
It had been scheduled to take place from October 29 to November 1 at Sheshan International Golf Club and was the final stop on the PGA Tour's $29.75 million three-tournament Asian swing. But the trio of events, the highlight of Asia's golf calendar, have been wiped off the continent by the coronavirus after South Korea's CJ Cup and Japan's Zozo Championship were relocated to courses in the US.
All international sports competitions in China, except Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic test events, have been canceled for at least the rest of this year because of the pandemic.
Past winners of the prestigious event in Shanghai include current world No.1 Dustin Johnson, five-time major winner Phil Mickleson, double Masters champion Bubba Watson and Olympic gold medallist Justin Rose.
The $9.75 million Zozo Championship on October 22-25, launched last year and memorably won by Tiger Woods for a record-equalling 82nd PGA Tour victory, was moved Tuesday from Chiba near Tokyo to Thousands Oaks, California.
The CJ Cup, which last year also carried a mammoth prize fund of $9.75 million, had already been shifted from Nine Bridges in Jeju Island to Shadow Creek in Las Vegas to be played on October 15-18.
The WGC-HSBC Champions follows the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, also in Shanghai, and all of China's WTA and ATP tennis tournaments being canceled this year.
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