Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States and Shanghai, China: The World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, Asia’s most high-profile golfing event, has been cancelled.

News of the event’s cancellation follows the decision to move the CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES from Korea to Las Vegas and the ZOZO Championship from Japan to California, meaning the PGA Tour’s entire annual fall visit to Asia for 2020 is now off.

Due to feature many of the game’s leading players, the WGC-HSBC Champions was scheduled to take place at Shanghai’s Sheshan International Golf Club from October 29-November 1.

However, following the recent announcement and guidelines issued by the General Administration of Sports of China with regards to the staging of international sporting events in China, the PGA Tour – on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours and in consultation with the China Golf Association – has confirmed the event’s cancellation.

“We have worked extensively with all Tours, international officials, the China Golf Association and other local parties to find a solution to host the WGC-HSBC Champions,” said Ty Votaw, PGA Tour Executive Vice President, International.

He added: “In line with Chinese Government guidelines and being mindful of the logistical implications, we collectively made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 event.

“The WGC-HSBC Champions has been a catalyst in the growth in interest and participation in our sport throughout China and Asia. While we are disappointed with not being able to bring the world’s best players to Shanghai this year, our thanks goes out to HSBC, the China Golf Association and the fans in China who have helped make this event so successful since it became a World Golf Championships event in 2009.”