Hong Kong Open missing from European Tour schedule but organisers hopeful of rejoining golf circuit
- Restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic mean that organisers are unable to stage the 62nd edition in November as scheduled
- Organisers say they are ‘reviewing suitable options’ for hosting the tournament, which has run uninterrupted since 1959
The Hong Kong Open is missing from the 2020-21 European Tour calendar because of restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic but organisers are refusing to give up hope of finding a slot in the schedule for this season.
The city’s oldest professional sporting event, which last season was delayed until January 2020 because of anti-government protests, was tentatively penned in for late November to kick off the European Tour’s new campaign.
However, the Tour announced a revised schedule last week, with the Cyprus Classic and the Magical Kenya Open being played over the first two weeks of November. The next tournament on the schedule is the Australian PGA Championship from December 3-6.
“In view of the continuing restrictions in force due to Covid-19, organisers of the 2020 Hong Kong Open are reviewing suitable options for the staging of the tournament,” said the organisers in a statement to the Post.
“All parties, including Hong Kong Golf Club and the sanctioning tours, remain fully committed to staging the 62nd edition of Hong Kong’s longest running professional sporting event.
“As with all tournaments, the safety and well-being of players, spectators and tournament personnel is our absolute priority. We thank the Hong Kong golf community for their continued understanding and support. A further announcement will be made in due course.”