The Open 2020: Organizers Considering Postponement Due To Coronavirus

Royal St George & # 39; s has hosted The Open 14 times, most recently in 2011

. The Open organizers are considering postponing the 2020 Championships due to the coronavirus pandemic and hope to make a final decision soon.

The event, one of the four majors of golf, will take place July 16-19 at Royal St George & # 39; s in Sandwich, Kent.

In March, both the Masters and the US PGA Championship were postponed.

"We will continue to work on our options for The Open this year, including postponement," said Martin Slumbers, R&A General Manager.

He added that a "series of external factors" meant that the situation "took some time" to resolve.

"We are well aware of the importance of being able to give clear guidance to fans, players and everyone involved and are working to fix this as soon as possible, "said Slumbers.

" We will provide a further update as soon as we get in a po to this. and thank everyone for their support and understanding in this challenging situation. "

The other major, the US Open, will be played June 18-21 at Winged Foot in New York.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) is expected to make a decision soon the tournament will be announced.

The Open has been held every year since the tournament resumed in 1946, and was not held between 1940 and 1945 due to World War II.

The oldest tournament van Golf, which started in 1860, was not held from 1915 to 1919 due to World War I.

The only other previous cancellation came in 1871 when no trophy was available because Tom Morris Jr was allowed to keep the Challenge Belt to win the tournament three times in a row.

The current prize, the Claret Jug, was introduced in 1872.