GA 2020 Masters Postponed Due To Coronavirus Risk: Officials

ATLANTA, GA — The 2020 Masters Tournament that was set to take place in Georgia has been postponed, officials announced Friday. Concerns about the new coronavirus spreading have led several professional sports leagues and teams to cancel or postpone games, tournaments or seasons.

Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley shared this statement on Twitter: “Respecting the health and well-being of everyone associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community, the 2020 Master’s Tournament, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals have been postponed.”

According to CBS Sports, The Masters have been played annually in April since 1945. It was canceled during 1943-45 because of to World War II.

The PGA also canceled The Players Championship and three other events leading into the first major championship of the year.

Here’s Ridley full statement on the postponement:

Unfortunately, the ever-increasing risks associated with the widespread Coronavirus COVID-19 have led us to a decision that undoubtedly will be disappointing to many, although I am confident is appropriate under these unique circumstances.

Considering the latest information and expert analysis, we have decided at this time to postpone the Masters Tournament, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.

Ultimately, the health and well-being of everyone associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community led us to this decision. We hope this postponement puts us in the best position to safely host the Masters Tournament and our amateur events at some later date.

Masters founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts decided to host an annual tournament at Augusta National, the club they founded in 1933. Roberts wanted to call it the Masters Tournament, but Jones considered it presumptuous. So the Augusta National Invitation Tournament was coined and used for five years. In 1939 the name was officially changed to the Masters after Jones gave in.

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