'WGC Series' Mexico Championship "At Risk of Cancellation Due to COVID-19"

Title Sponsor Mexico Salinas Group Expresses Reluctance Over No-Audience Games "Even Star Matches Shaken"

Patrick Reed cheering while holding the trophy right after winning last year's Mexico Championship. Mexico City (Mexico) = Getty Images / Multivitz Photo by Multivitz

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Direct hit from COVID-19."

The World Golf Championships (WGC) Series Mexico Championship is at risk of being canceled due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Mexican media reported on the 13th (Korean time) that "the Salinas Group, a Mexican conglomerate and title sponsor, has conveyed that they will no longer support the event if it is held without spectators and invited guests." The tournament is scheduled to open on February 26 at Chapultepec Golf Club in Mexico City (par 71, 7,345 yards).

The WGC Series is a premier event comparable to the four major championships. The total prize money is $10.5 million, which is larger than the PGA Tour Playoffs (PO) prize money of $9.5 million. It was established in 1999 by the International Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the seven major professional golf tours worldwide, including the United States and Europe. The prestige is also exceptional. It is included in both the U.S. and European money rankings, and the world ranking points awarded are high. Majors award 100 points, while The Players Championship and WGC Series award 80 points.

It is interesting that the "Returned Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods holds 18 WGC Series championship trophies. Dustin Johnson, world number one (both from the U.S.), achieved a remarkable record called the "WGC Slam" by winning all four different WGC Series events. He completed this feat by winning the 2013 HSBC Champions, the 2015 Mexico Championship (then Cadillac Championship), the 2016 Bridgestone Invitational, and the 2017 Dell Technologies Match Play.

The sequence of these tournaments is this event, followed by the Dell Technologies in March, the FedEx St. Jude Invitational in June, and the HSBC Champions in November. Last year, the Dell Technologies and HSBC Champions were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is difficult to hold the tournament in Mexico without the Salinas Group. The dependence on them is very high, not only for prize money but also for operating costs and the course. The organizing committee is currently rushing to prepare alternatives to hold the event at other golf courses, including those on the U.S. mainland.

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