Due to China’s ongoing battle with the COVID-19 pandemic, the PGA Tour announced on Wednesday the cancellation of the WGC-HSBC Champions scheduled for October 27-30. This marks the third consecutive season that the event has been excluded from the playing schedule. Rory McIlroy remains the reigning champion of the event, having won the Xishan Golf Club in Shanghai in 2019.
“We have worked with all of the Tours, as well as the Chinese Golf Association, on the feasibility of hosting the WGC-HSBC Champions this fall, but unfortunately, the logistical implications led to the difficult decision to cancel the event,” said PGA TOUR Senior Vice President. Dolly Christian Hardy. “We are grateful to HSBC’s partnership during these trying times as we continue to explore the changing COVID-19 climate.”
In its place, Bermuda will stand on its own and will once again earn a full share of FedEx Cup points as well as a $6.5 million purse.
The PGA Tour isn’t the only tour that will give up traveling to China next fall. The LPGA Tour followed suit by canceling its own event in Shanghai.
“As directed by our Chinese Golf Association partners, the LPGA can confirm the cancellation of the Buick LPGA Shanghai 2022, scheduled for October 13-16, due to ongoing restrictions related to COVID-19,” the LPGA released in a statement. “We thank SAIC-GM Buick, the China Golf Association, CLPGA and IMG for all their efforts, and we hope to compete in front of our fans at Qizhong Garden Golf Club in the future.”
Debuting in 2018, LPGA Shanghai saw Daniel Kang win the first two editions of the tournament. Canceled in 2020 and 2021, another year will pass when the LPGA Tour will be without an event in China on schedule.
