Golf Australia on Thursday announced that two of its major summer tournaments will not be going ahead as planned due to continued complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2021 Men’s Australian Open and the 2022 Women’s Australian Open have been canceled, Golf Australia said in a statement.
“The decision has not been made lightly but we believe it to be the right outcome under the current circumstances,” said Golf Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland.
“The international element means shifting quarantine and travel restrictions wreak havoc on planning and, with our marquee players living abroad, the challenge is even greater,” he added.
“The pressure and risk on host venues and organizers are also high – these are small businesses who have already faced huge disruption due to the pandemic.”
This year’s edition of the men’s tournament was first scheduled for 25-28 November at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney, then postponed until early in 2022, DPA reports.
The Women’s Australian Open was set to take place at Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide in February 2022.
Golf Australia’s General Manager Events and Operations, Therese Magdulski, said it became increasingly apparent as the tournament dates loomed that it would not be possible to run them because of the restrictions in place.
Magdulski added that public health concerns and continued uncertainty over travel also played their part as the virus continues to flare around Australia.
Australia has had its international borders closed since March 2020, and even travel between states is still in some cases subject to mandatory quarantine.
The golfing body said it will begin planning for a return of the two Opens in the Australian summer of 2022-2023.
BNA Sports
