Seoul (AFP)

The CJ Cup, the South Korean stage of the professional golf circuit (PGA) scheduled for October 15-18, will take place in the United States in Las Vegas due to new measures taken in South Korea to prevent a resumption of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers announced on Monday.

"While our players were delighted to come to South Korea, the current conditions encourage us to host the event in Las Vegas," said Ty Votaw, PGA Tour vice president in charge of international operations.

The CJ Cup joined the PGA Tour calendar in 2017 and annually attracts the best players in the world. It was won in 2017 and 2019 by the American Justin Thomas and by his compatriot Brooks Koepka in 2018.

It is in fact the entire Asian tour of the professional men's golf circuit that could be called into question.

The other two events, scheduled in Japan (Zozo Championship) and especially in China (HSBC Champions in Shanghai, counting for the World Golf Championship), scheduled for the second part of October, could be canceled or relocated.

"We are currently in discussions with the organizers of the Zozo Championship and the WGC-HSBC Champions and we will make an announcement shortly about these two events," the PGA Tour said in a statement to AFP.

The Asian tour is one of the best endowed on the professional circuit with a total of $ 30 million in funding.

The women's circuit, very popular in South Korea where its representatives are among the best players in the world, is also affected with a questioning of the BMW Ladies' Championship, scheduled for October in Busan (South Korea).

"We will have to follow the health recommendations of the local authorities, we have no choice," admitted Bret Choi, in charge of Asian operations for the women's LPGA circuit.

South Korea on Sunday extended the measures in force in the capital Seoul region to its entire territory, closing beaches, restaurants, karaoke bars and museums and suspending sporting events behind closed doors.

South Korea, one of the first countries affected in the spring after China, reported 397 new cases of contamination on Sunday, the largest daily increase since early March.

© 2020 AFP