'Schedule Conflicted' 4 Major Tournaments: "US Open During the Olympic Period?"

April Masters and May PGA Championship Postponed Sequentially, June US Open Considered for Delay to July

Last year's four major champions: Masters Tiger Woods (left), PGA Championship Brooks Koepka, US Open Gary Woodland, and The Open Shane Lowry (from top right).

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] The schedule for the four major championships this season has become entangled.

This is due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Following the first major, the Masters in April, the second major, the PGA Championship in May, was postponed, and the third major, the US Open in June, has also turned into a 'red light' situation. The PGA Tour abruptly suspended play after the first round of The Players, known as the 'fifth major,' on the 13th, and postponed or put on hold as many as 10 tournaments. There is a plan to resume the tour starting with the Charles Schwab Challenge on May 22, but it remains uncertain.

The US Open, in particular, has already closed the Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, a fiercely contested venue. Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order to close all multi-use facilities as New York State has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the United States. New Rochelle, where the National Guard was deployed, is only 5 km away from Winged Foot. The USGA competition committee officials who had come to manage the course for the US Open have also withdrawn.

It is important to note that the US Open has a unique format with qualifiers held not only in the United States but also in Asia, Europe, and other countries worldwide. This is considered a core value. However, all qualifiers scheduled to begin on the 27th of next month have been canceled. This time, there has been disruption in the course setup, which boasts the highest level of differentiation. The USGA analyzed that "work must resume by mid-April at the latest for a normal event to be possible."

Even postponement is not an easy situation. The last major, The Open Championship in July, the PGA Tour Playoffs (PO) in August, and the Ryder Cup, the intercontinental golf competition between the United States and Europe on September 25, are all lined up as premium matches. The rumor of the Masters being held in October is intriguing. Hotel accommodation prices in the Augusta area of Georgia, USA, have already skyrocketed, fueling speculation. The announcement on the 25th of the Tokyo Olympics being postponed by one year has become a topic of interest. It is just the right timing for the US Open.

Of course, the prerequisite is the early end of COVID-19. The only major outside the United States, The Open Championship, is in the same situation. This year's venue is the Royal St George's Golf Club in England. The spread of COVID-19 in England is not insignificant. Martin Slumbers, Secretary General of The R&A, which organizes the tournament, said, "There is plenty of time, so I believe it can be held," and added, "We will closely monitor the situation and inform immediately if there are any changes to the schedule."