The LPGA Tour has made plans to restart its 2020 season with the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational at Midland Country Club on July 15-18 in Midland, Mich., it was announced on Wednesday in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Members were recently informed by the LPGA Tour of its plan for the rest season, which like all other sports schedules has been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic.
“One thing that has become clear is that there will be no ‘opening bell’ regarding a return to safe play in this new normal of the Covid-19 pandemic,” LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said.
“To be honest, being ‘first’ has never been the goal when it comes to returning to play in this new normal. We have built a schedule that we think is as safe as possible given what we know about travel bans, testing availability, and delivering events that our sponsors and our athletes will be excited to attend.
“While July seems like a long way away, we are certainly aware that restarting our season in Michigan, Ohio and New Jersey will require a continued improvement in the situation in each of those states.”
The LPGA Tour plans to play three times in July and the first week of August, with the Marathon Classic presented by Dana following at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, on July 23-26, and the Shoprite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer set for July 30-Aug. 2 on the Bay Course at Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in Galloway, N.J.
That will lead into what this season will be the first major, the Evian Champions at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les Bains, France.
Two California tournaments are among five LPGA Tour events on the original schedule that will not be played until 2021.
The LPGA Mediheal Championship was set to begin on Thursday at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, outside San Francisco, while the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open was scheduled for April 23-26 at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles.
Both have been canceled.
Other events that will not be played this season include the UL International Crown,
the Volvik Founders Cup, the Pure Silk Championship and the LOTTE Championship.
The ANA Inspiration, which normally is the first major of the season in April on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, has been rescheduled for Sept. 10-13.
Rounding out the major season will be the AIG Women’s British Open on Aug. 20-23 at Royal Troon Golf Club, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., on Oct. 8-11, and the U.S. Women’s Open at Champions Golf Course in Houston on Dec. 10-13.
The CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla., has been moved from Nov. 19-22 to Dec. 17-20.
The only other LPGA Tour event in California this season will be the Kia Classic at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad on Sept. 24-27.
For the complete LPGA Tour schedule, visit https://www.lpga.com/tournaments
