Coronavirus Cancels LPGA Events

Last week, the LPGA announced that it would cancel the 2020 Blue Bay LPGA on Hainan Island in China over coronavirus worries.

Now, it has cancelled the 2020 Honda LPGA Thailand and the HSBC Women’s World Championship.

I usually dismiss the gloom-and-doom reporting of the mass media. It is to their financial advantage to pump up the latest end-of-the-world scenario, whether it be Y2K or Swine Flu. The Coroniavirus, on the other hand, feels somehow different. Maybe it’s the certainty that the totalitarian Chinese government is lying about the numbers. Or maybe it is the swift action taken by the US government in travel bans and cruise ship quarantines.

At any rate, the complete LPGA statement follows:

LPGA Tour Statement on the 2020 Honda LPGA Thailand and

2020 HSBC Women’s World Championship

Due to the continued health concerns and recent advisories in some Asian countries that large-scale events should be cancelled or postponed as a result of the coronavirus, the LPGA and its partners have made the decision to cancel the 2020 Honda LPGA Thailand, which was scheduled to take place February 20-23 in Pattaya, Thailand, and the 2020 HSBC Women’s World Championship, which was scheduled to take place February 27-March 1 in Singapore.

It is always a difficult decision to cancel events and the LPGA greatly appreciates the understanding and all the efforts made by our title sponsors (Honda and HSBC) as well as IMG to host incredible events for our players. The health and safety of our players, fans and everyone working on the event is always our highest priority. While we are disappointed that these tournaments will not take place this season, we look forward to returning to Asia soon.