The PGA of America made what had been speculation official on Tuesday when it announced that the 102nd PGA Championship, scheduled for May 14-17 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco has been postponed because of concern over the Coronavirus pandemic.
In addition, the PGA Tour canceled four more events, making a total of seven that will not be played this year.
“This is a reflection of a thoughtful process,” Chief Executive Officer Seth Waugh of the PGA of America said in a statement saying the PGA Championship will not be played as scheduled in May.
“We are and have been working in concert with (PGA Tour) Commissioner Jay Monahan and our partners and friends at the PGA Tour to find an alternative date that works for all. We are very hopeful for a great outcome.”
Waugh said hopes the PGA can be played later in the summer, “when it is once again safe and responsible to do so.”
Brooks Koepka has won the last two PGA Championship and when it is played again he will try to join Walter Hagen (1924-27), who is the only player to win the tournament three straight times.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended the cancellation or postponement of any gathering of 50 or more people for at least the next eight weeks because of the Coronavirus.
In addition, six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area issued a “Shelter-in-Place” order to help slow the spread of the virus.
The PGA Tour announced Tuesday that it has canceled the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island, S.C., the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C., and the Byron Nelson Championship outside Dallas.
Last week, the last three rounds of The Players Championship were canceled along with the next three scheduled events—the Valspar Championship, WGC-Match Play and the Valero Texas Open.
The next day, Augusta National Golf Club announced that the Masters, set for April 2-5, has been postponed.
The next event on the schedule which has not been postponed or canceled is the Charles Schwab Challenge, scheduled for May 21-24 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
“As we receive more clarity in the coming weeks, the Tour will be working with our tournament organizations and title sponsors, in collaboration with golf’s governing bodies, to build a PGA Tour schedule for 2020 that ensures the health and safety for all associated with our sport and a meaningful conclusion to the season,” the PGA Tour said in a statement. “We will provide further updates when those plans come into focus.”
In addition on Tuesday, the United States Golf Association announced that it has canceled local qualifiers for the United States Open, which still is scheduled for June 18-21 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y.
The USGA also said in its statement that it will “look to redesign qualifying” for the U.S. Open in the coming months.
