[Golf Topic] JLPGA Season Opener "Canceled Due to COVID-19 Impact"

Last year's final day match of the Daikin Orchid Ladies. Photo by JLPGA Official Website

[Asia Economy Reporter Noo Rae] ○…The opening event of the 2020 season of the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour has been canceled due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The JLPGA Secretariat announced on the 28th, "We have decided to cancel the opening event, the Daikin Orchid Ladies (total prize money of 120 million yen), which was scheduled to be held for four days from March 5 at Ryukyu Golf Club (par 72) in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan," adding, "The safety of players and galleries was our top priority." They continued, "We will cooperate fully with the government's national infection safety measures," and added, "We sincerely apologize to the JLPGA Tour players, golf officials, and golf fans who were looking forward to the opening event."

The tournament organizing committee had planned to hold the event without spectators, but ultimately canceled it following the Japanese government's guideline to suspend, postpone, or reduce the scale of large-scale sports and cultural events for about two weeks. In the 33rd edition of the tournament this year, a total of 108 players were expected to compete in a 72-hole stroke play format to determine the winner. South Korea has produced winners such as Lee Min-young (28) in 2018, Ahn Sun-ju (33) in 2010 and 2017, Park In-bee (32) in 2011, and Song Bo-bae (34) in 2008.