[Golf Topic] Buick LPGA Shanghai Canceled... Is the 'Asian Swing' Doomed?

Mike Whan LPGA Tour Commissioner

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ○…The Buick LPGA Shanghai, part of the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, has been canceled.

On the 13th (Korean time), the LPGA Tour announced, "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided not to hold the tournament this year," adding, "Considering health concerns and international travel restrictions, we decided to cancel and hope to hold it next year." The event was scheduled to take place in Shanghai, China, on October 15. The Buick LPGA Shanghai is the first tournament of the four-week LPGA Tour 'Asian Swing,' followed by events in Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.

The cancellation of this tournament is likely a signal that the entire 'Asian Swing' will be canceled. With COVID-19 causing domestic tournaments in Korea and Japan to be canceled one after another, holding an LPGA Tour event, which involves significant challenges in quarantine and immigration processes, is virtually impossible. The LPGA Tour resumed after about five months through the Drive On Championship on the 31st of last month, following a suspension due to COVID-19 after the Australian Women's Open on the 2nd. The Scottish Women's Open will be held starting this afternoon.

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