2020 British Open: Cancelled

The 2020 British Open was not played. The tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus sweeping the globe and causing serious illnesses and, in some cases, death.

It was the first time the Open Championsip was skipped in a calendar year since 1945, the last of the World War II years in which the Open was not played. The Open was also skipped from 1940-44 and, due to World War I, from 1915-19.

The scheduled host golf course, Royal St. George's, was pushed back a year to become the site of the 2021 British Open.

The R&A made the announcement of the cancellation on April 6, 2020, roughly three months prior to the scheduled dates (July 16-19) of that year's Open. Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, said in a statement:

"We care deeply about this historic championship and have made this decision with a heavy heart. We appreciate that this will be disappointing for a great many people around the world, but we have to act responsibly during this pandemic and it is the right thing to do. I can assure everyone that we have explored every option for playing The Open this year, but it is not going to be possible."

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