COVID-19: R&A postpones Amateur and Women's Amateur; moves Curtis Cup to 2021
Reigning Amateur champion, James Sugrue. Picture: R&A
Fears that The Open will have to be postponed are only growing now after the R&A announced that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced it to postpone three major amateur events scheduled for June.
Both the Amateur Championship and the Women’s Amateur will now be played in August while the Curtis Cup will now take place in 2021 following advice provided to the R&A by the UK Government, health authorities and its own medical consultants in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The R&A confirmed that:
The 41st Curtis Cup at Conwy, due to take place from 12-14 June, has been rescheduled to 2021 in agreement with the USGA. The revised dates will be advised in due course.
The Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire, due to take place from 15-20 June, and The Women’s Amateur Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie), due to take place from 23-27 June, are being rescheduled to week commencing 24 August 2020. These plans are dependent on the situation with the pandemic and we will continue to monitor it in the coming weeks.
Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Golf Development and Amateur Championships at The R&A, said: “We have a responsibility to protect the health and well-being of the players and everyone involved in our events so it is the right course of action to take. We are grateful to all of the venues for their continuing support in these challenging circumstances and will update everyone involved with our plans.”
The R&A added that it will “continue to review our 2020 professional championships and the remainder of our domestic amateur season,” adding that further information will be issued in due course.
