The Korea Golf Association has taken its marquee event off the 2020 calendar, the Korea Open. The organization announced the cancellation Friday, referencing the coronavirus pandemic in its decision.
The Korea Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and KGA, was scheduled to be played June 25-28 at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, South Korea (which is roughly 90 miles south of Seoul).
The Korea Open has been played since 1958, and had never been canceled until this year, according to a report in the Korea Herald.
Jazz Janewattananond, a Thai player who has nine international victories, would have been the defending champion at the event, but the list of past winners is significant. Rickie Fowler, Vijay Singh and K.J. Choi have all won a Korea Open title.
Meanwhile, the Korean LPGA’s KLPGA Championship is currently underway at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, which is roughly 15 miles north of Seoul. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event is taking special precautions, including an outdoor media center and no spectators.
The KLPGA began its season in December of last year but has been on hold since due to the coronavirus. This week’s event included a 150-player field playing for a $2.4 million purse.
