[Golf Topic] LPGA Tour "Playing Two Tournaments Together at Once?"

Mike Whan LPGA Tour Commissioner

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ○…"It is possible to combine two tournaments and hold them together."

This is a proposal from Mike Whan, the commissioner of the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. It is a solution to the problems caused by the postponement of tournaments due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In an interview with the U.S. Golf Channel on the 18th (Korean time), he said, "We can consider the option of combining two tournaments into one," adding, "For example, combining two tournaments with a total prize money of 1.5 million dollars each into one tournament with a total prize money of 2.8 million dollars."

The LPGA Tour has suffered significant damage due to the spread of COVID-19. Last month, all three 'Asian Swing' tournaments scheduled in Thailand, Singapore, and China were canceled. Subsequently, three tournaments planned on the U.S. mainland?the Founders Cup, the Kia Classic, and the April ANA Inspiration?were removed from the schedule. U.S. President Donald Trump issued guidelines stating "Do not gather more than 10 people," making it difficult to hold tournaments even until May.

Commissioner Whan explained, "It will be difficult to have many cases where two tournaments are combined into one, but there is at least a possibility of doing so once," and added, "We need to put everything on the table and review it." The LPGA Tour has weeks without tournaments, so when COVID-19 subsides, there is room to reschedule the postponed tournaments. Commissioner Whan predicted, "Once we start holding tournaments again, the schedule will likely have tournaments almost every week."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.