KLPGA COVID-19 Trend "Is the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open Cancellation Imminent?"

Taiwan Women's Open and Celltrion Queens Masters, Domestic Opening on April 9 Also Likely Canceled

The Lotte Rent-a-Car Women's Open, the opening domestic event of the KLPGA Tour 2020 season, is expected to be canceled due to the impact of COVID-19.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour is also expected to be directly impacted by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On the 15th, Park Jin-woo, head of the KLPGA Strategic Marketing Team, said, "We are repeatedly deliberating over holding the domestic season opener, the Lotte Rent-a-Car Ladies Open (total prize money of 700 million won), scheduled for the 9th of next month at Lotte Skyhill Golf Course in Seogwipo, Jeju," adding, "We are having close discussions with sponsors, agencies, broadcasters, and Jeju Province." He continued, "In the COVID-19 situation, the safety of players and galleries is paramount," and added, "I believe a final decision will be made soon."

At present, cancellation of the domestic season opener is highly likely. It is burdensome in many ways to proceed with a golf tournament while the entire nation is suffering from COVID-19. If the spread of COVID-19 continues, it will be difficult to hold the event as there is a high risk of infection among players, caddies, officials, and galleries during the tournament. If a confirmed case emerges at a tournament venue where more than 1,000 people gather, all of them would have to be quarantined.

If players’ movement overlaps with confirmed cases, they may not be able to train at all. Park said, "The KLPGA Tour schedule is tight until the end of November," and explained, "Postponing the Lotte Rent-a-Car Ladies Open is practically impossible." The KLPGA Tour has already suffered damage from COVID-19. The Taiwan Ladies Open, scheduled for the 12th in Taiwan, was the first to be canceled. It was a tournament co-hosted by the KLPGA Tour and the Taiwan Ladies Professional Golf Association (TLPGA).

The Celltrion Queens Masters, planned for April 17 at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Songdo, Incheon, was also inevitably canceled due to COVID-19 and postponed until next year. The KLPGA Tour hopes to proceed as planned with the Nexen Saint Nine Masters, held over three days starting April 24 in Gimhae, Gyeongnam. There is hope that the COVID-19 situation will have somewhat subsided by mid-April. Park expressed hope, saying, "I hope COVID-19 calms down quickly so that tournaments can proceed normally."