Hong Kong – Next week’s Hong Kong Open, one of the biggest golf tournaments in
Asia, was postponed on Wednesday following months of anti-government
protests in the city.
“Regretfully the European Tour, in conjunction with our tournament
co-sanctioning partner at the Asian Tour, has taken the decision to
postpone next week’s Hong Kong Open,” a European Tour statement said.
European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said he hoped the event,
whose winners include Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie and Peter Thomson,
could be rescheduled for early next year.
“The decision has been taken due to the ongoing level of social unrest in Hong Kong,” Pelley said.
“As the safety of our players, staff, stakeholders and everyone
involved in each and every one of our tournaments around the world is
our top priority, we feel this is the correct, but unfortunate, course
of action.”
Asian Tour commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant said: “It is
regrettable that the Hong Kong Open has to be postponed due to the
ongoing unrest in the city.
“The unpredictability of the current situation in Hong Kong makes it
very challenging to sanction the tournament especially with the safety
of everyone of utmost importance.
“However, we are optimistic that once the situation in Hong Kong
stabilises, we will be in a better position to sanction the 61st edition
of the Hong Kong Open in the very near future.”
