The European Tour has decided to postpone next week’s Hong Kong Open in light of the on-going social unrest in the city.
The tournament, which was due to take place at Hong Kong Golf Club from November 28 to December 1, will be rescheduled for next year, although no dates have yet been agreed.
Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour, said: “The decision has been taken to postpone the tournament due to the ongoing level of social unrest in Hong Kong. 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.
“The European Tour thanks everyone at the Hong Kong Golf Association, the Hong Kong Golf Club and all persons associated with the Hong Kong Open for their hard work in endeavouring to stage the tournament and we look forward to hopefully returning early next year.”
Cho Minn Thant, commissioner and chief executive officer of the Asian Tour, which co-sanctions the tournament, 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.”