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British Open, golf's oldest championship, cancelled until 2021 as schedule reworked

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Shane Lowry of Ireland won the 2019 British Open to become Champion Golfer of the Year.

The British Open will not be played this year for the first time since 1945, with the R&A choosing to play golf's oldest championship next year at Royal St. George's and move the 150th Open at St. Andrews to 2022.

It was a major piece of golf trying to reconfigure a schedule brought on by the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19).

Golf organizations were expected to announced later today (April 6) the PGA Championship moving to August, the U.S. Open going to September and the Masters to be played in November, two weeks before American Thanksgiving.

All that depends on guidance from government and health authorities.

R&A chief Martin Slumbers said the decision to cancel the British Open was based on guidance from the United Kingdom government, health authorities and public services.

He said all tickets and other hospitality packages will be shifted to 2021 or fully refunded.