The Open 2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic, R&A confirm

The 2020 Open Championship has become the first men's golf major to be cancelled outright due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 149th Open was set to be held at Royal St. George's in Sandwich, Kent between 16-19 July, but the R&A announced on Monday that the tournament would not go ahead at all.

Instead, The Open will be held at the same course in 2021.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: "We have explored every option for playing The Open this year but it is not going to be possible."

The Masters, which was set to begin the run of majors in 2020 at Augusta this week, has already been postponed, as has the PGA Championship at Harding Park.

The US Open at Winged Foot remains on but it is expected that an announcement will be made regarding a decision on the June tournament this month.

St. Andrews in Scotland was set to host the 150th Open in 2021, but that will now be pushed back a year to 2022.

It is understood planning is still going ahead for the 2020 Ryder Cup, due to be held at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, USA in late September, to be played as scheduled.

However, a decision on the biannual contest will depend on how the Covid-19 crisis develops over the coming weeks and months.

The Open will now be held at Royal St. George's in 2021 instead
Getty Images

Building the infrastructure needed is not expected to begin until June, meaning organisers have more time to make a decision.

Royal St. George's will host the 149th Open, when Shane Lowry will defend the Claret Jug won at Portrush last year, from 11-18 July 2021, while the 150th Open will be played from 10-17 July 2022.

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