South Korea's biggest golf tournament, the PGA Tour's CJ Cup, has been moved to Las Vegas while the fate of the rest PGA Tour's Asian swing – Japan's Zozo Championship and the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai – remains uncertain.
The CJ Cup, which has prize money of 9.75-million U.S. dollars, has been moved from South Korea to Las Vegas because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tour and sponsors CJ Group announced on Tuesday.
"While our players have always looked forward to visiting Korea, the current circumstances provided this new opportunity to bring the event to Las Vegas," PGA Tour executive vice-president, international Ty Votaw said.
South Korea has seen recent spikes of coronavirus cases, prompting the country to tighten social distancing rules and travel restrictions.
The CJ Cup, which has been played annually since 2017 at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island, will this year be held at the Shadow Creek course in Las Vegas from October 15-18.
"We are thankful for the partnership and support that the CJ Group and Korean PGA have shown in view of the circumstances," Votaw said in the announcement.
Separately, the Tour said it was in talks over the fate of Japan's Zozo Championship and the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, which are scheduled to be held in consecutive weeks after the CJ Cup.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland kisses the trophy on the 18th green after the final round of the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China, November 3, 2019. /VCG
"We are currently engaged in discussions with the stakeholders of both the Zozo Championship and World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and will make an announcement shortly on the status of both events," the Tour said in a statement to Agence France-Presse.
With combined purses of 29.75 million U.S. dollars, the Tour's three-stop swing has been the highlight of Asia's golf calendar in recent seasons.
Hailed as the tournament with the richest prize purse in the region at 10.25 million U.S. dollars, the World Golf Championship-HSBC Champions in Shanghai is due to take place at Sheshan International Golf Club from October 29-November 1.
It is uncertain now, however, as to whether it will go as scheduled since China's General Administration of Sport has banned most international sports events this year to guard against the coronavirus pandemic.
(Cover image: Li Haotong of China hits a shot on the sixth tee box during the second round of the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China, November 1, 2019. /VCG)
(With input from agencies)