The Evian Championship which was to be the Ladies’ PGA’s first event in 2020 has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The prestigious event will now be played in 2021.
The ongoing uncertainty concerning the opening of borders, in particular with Asia and the USA, poses a major risk to the organization of a competition, which in less than 8 weeks, has to welcome 120 players from around the world and from over 30 countries. Even if in France restrictions concerning outdoor public events seem to be gradually easing, the LPGA and The Evian Championship’s organizing committee have to recognize that the conditions for a safe and relaxed event that lives up to the expectations of the public, players, organizers and their partners are not in place. On top of this, as the sporting calendar does not allow for a rescheduling of the date (which was already postponed a few weeks ago from July to August), the tournament will now be played in July 2021.
LPGA
“I have been incredibly impressed by the entire team at The Evian Championship. They worked so hard to host this global event despite the obvious challenges,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “They know that high-pursed, career-changing events like The Evian are more important than ever, especially in an LPGA year that has been drastically reduced due to COVID-19. I know this was a tough decision for everyone involved, but it’s one that we had to take given the restrictions we faced.
“It is disappointing to miss a major championship but Evian’s strong history of showcasing the best female golfers will continue once again when we return in 2021. We look forward to being back on the mountain in Evian next year and for a long time to come.”
The Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational tournament in Michigan has now been cancelled.
While we are disappointed that the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational will not be held this year, I am excited that our friends at Dow have extended our relationship and will be hosting us in Midland for many years,” LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said. “As I’ve said since this pandemic started, while we will do all we can to play safely in 2020, the most important thing is to ensure the long-term health of our Tour. We are very thankful to the team at Dow for their ongoing and extended support. The 2019 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational was an incredible addition to our schedule, and I’m excited to see what they bring to the table in 2021.”
Photo: Jin Young Ko [2019 Evian Champion]
