Update: The Masters Rescheduled To November
GolfSports
April 3, 2020
Kelly Byrnes 0
The Masters was one of the first sporting events to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the iconic golf course at Augusta National vacant this April. But PGA professionals will still have their chance to compete for the green jacket in 2020, with the tournament officially rescheduled to early November.
A revised PGA Tour schedule has shifted a number of tournaments, as first reported by Golfweek‘s Eamon Lynch. Officials hoped to stage at least three of the four majors this year, albeit under an abnormal calendar schedule.
“In collaboration with the leading organizations in golf, Augusta National Golf Club has identified November 9-15 as the intended dates to host the 2020 Masters,” club chairman Fred Ridley shared in a statement. “While more details will be shared in the weeks and months to come, we, like all of you, will continue to focus on all mandated precautions and guidelines to fight against the Coronavirus. Along the way, we hope 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.”
“We want to emphasize that our future plans are incumbent upon favorable counsel and direction from health officials,” Ridley added. “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.”
While the Masters remains on the calendar for 2020, the British Open has been cancelled. The major was originally set for July 16-19 at Royal St. Georges Golf Club, although Golfweek reported a cancellation was likely as the schedule was shifted.
The PGA Championship is expected to take place at San Francisco’s Harding Park in early August as initially planned. Meanwhile, the U.S. Open at New York’s Winged Foot Golf Club has been postponed from June to September 18-21. The Masters will serve as the final major of the year when it tees off from August National beginning November 12.
“Ultimately, the health and well-being of everyone associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community led us to this decision,” Ridley said of the tournament’s postponement last month. “We hope this postponement puts us in the best position to safely host the Masters Tournament and our amateur events at some later date.”
Coronavirus fears have already cancelled eight PGA Tour level tournaments this spring.