Report: 2020 British Open to be cancelled

Another sports cancellation is on the way due to the novel coronavirus, as the 2020 British Open is set to be terminated according to a report from Joel Beall and Brian Wacker of Golf Digest.

The R&A is expected to cancel the 2020 Open Championship, multiple sources tell Golf Digest. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak about the cancellation publicly.

The decision, which could be announced as early as Thursday, comes after the All England Club canceled the Wimbledon tennis tournament (scheduled for June 29) on Wednesday. Sources told Golf Digest last week the R&A was awaiting the decision on Wimbledon before proceeding.

The Open Championship has been contested every year since 1945, when it wasn’t held due to World War II. It was scheduled for Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, Kent from July 16-19, and was to be the second year where the tournament was to serve as golf’s last major. The PGA Championship moved to May from August beginning in 2019. Shane Lowry was The R&A’s Champion Golfer of The Year in 2019, posting a 269 for a six-stroke victory at Royal Portrush.

It is unlikely the tournament would be able to return to Kent in 2021, as that is booked for the home of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, the Old Course at St Andrews in 2021, with Royal Liverpool scheduled for 2022 and Royal Troon in 2023.