New dates for golf’s four majors confirmed
In a joint statement from the R&A, USGA, PGA of America and Augusta National Golf Club, three of the four golf majors will now take place between August and November 2020, while one is cancelled.
The new schedule will be as follows:
PGA Championship
August 6-9
TPC Harding Park
Original date: May 14-17
Seth Waugh, PGA of America CEO, said: “We will continue to follow the guidance of public health officials, but are hopeful that it will be safe and responsible to conduct the PGA Championship in August and the Ryder Cup as planned from September 22-27”.
He added: “With our country going through extremely difficult times, it will be an honour for all of us at the PGA of America to hopefully help turn a page in August with the PGA Championship and September with the Ryder Cup.”
The Masters
November 12-15
Augusta National
Original date: April 9-12
In a statement, Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, said they hoped the “anticipation of staging the Masters Tournament in the fall brings a moment of joy to the Augusta community and all those who love the sport”.
He emphasised that “our future plans are incumbent upon favorable counsel and direction from health officials. Provided that occurs and we can conduct the 2020 Masters, we intend to invite those professionals and amateurs who would have qualified for our original April date and welcome all existing ticket holders to enjoy the excitement of Masters week.”
But the Augusta National Women’s Amateur has been cancelled. Those who had accepted an invitation to this year’s event will be invited to compete in 2021, provided they remain as an amateur.
US Open
September 17-20
Winged Foot
Original date: June 18-21
Mike Davis, USGA CEO, said: “We are hopeful that postponing the championship will offer us the opportunity to mitigate health and safety issues while still providing us with the best opportunity to conduct the U.S. Open this year.”
He added: “We are incredibly thankful to the membership and staff at Winged Foot for their flexibility and support. We are also grateful for the wonderful collaboration among the professional tours and other majors in working through a complicated schedule.”
Davis added the USGA was evaluating how the postponement would affect exemption categories with the changes being communicated as soon as possible.
The Open
Cancelled
Original date: July 16-19
The Open will not be played at all in 2020, with this year’s venue Royal St George’s taking on hosting duties next year instead.
Martin Slumbers, the R&A’s chief executive, said: “I can assure everyone that we have explored every option for playing The Open this year but it is not going to be possible.”
- Related: R&A confirm 2020 Open cancelled
Meanwhile, the Ryder Cup will remain in it’s September 25-27 slot and will now take place the weekend following the US Open.
The PGA Tour have also moved their three FedEx Cup Play-offs events back one week, so they will now start with the Northern Trust on August 13 and the Tour Championship will conclude on Monday September 7, which is a bank holiday in the US.
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Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
