The Open Championship has been canceled for the first time since World War II and the three remaining majors are getting a “shift in dates” as golf’s leaders have released a revised ’20 schedule as an “attempt to salvage a season severely disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic,” according to Adam Schupak of GOLFWEEK. The PGA Championship, as previously reported, will “become the season’s first major,” staying put at TPC Harding Park in S.F. on Aug. 6-9. The three FedExCup Playoffs events will be pushed back a week, now concluding Labor Day weekend. The U.S. Open will stay at Winged Foot outside N.Y. but “will now be played Sept. 17-20, the week before the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, which remains intact.” The Masters has been re-scheduled for Nov. 12-15 (GOLFWEEK.com, 4/6). GOLFCHANNEL.com's Rex Hoggard notes the N.Y. area “has become the epicenter of the outbreak in the United States and some have suggested an alternative venue might be necessary,” but the USGA “remains committed to Winged Foot.” This year also will mark the “first time the Masters will be played outside of April since the tournament was first held in 1934 in late March” (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 4/6).
STRANGE TIMES: In Scotland, Martin Dempster notes much like with Wimbledon, this year will mark the first time since World War II that the Open Championship will not be held. Royal St. George’s, which was set to host the Open in July, will serve as host next year. St. Andrews also will be pushed back a year on the rota, meaning it is still on course to host the 150th Open, now set for ‘22 (THE SCOTSMAN, 4/6). GOLF DIGEST’s Wacker & Beall cite sources as saying that part of the reason the Open is being canceled instead of postponed, is because of an insurance policy the R&A has “that shields against a global pandemic” (GOLFDIGEST.com, 4/6).
ANWA OFFICIALLY CANCELED: In Augusta, Wynston Wilcox notes the '20 Augusta National Women’s Amateur "will be canceled" due to the schedule changes. As a result, any amateur that was invited to this year’s tournament "will be invited" next year, as long as they "retain their amateur status" (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 4/6).
