Golf's oldest major has been called off.
The latest major sporting event due to be postponed due to the outbreak of Covid-19 is golf's oldest major, The Open championship.
The event was due to take place at Royal St George's golf club in Kent from 12-19 July and will now take place in 2021.
Obviously im disappointed that I won’t get to defend the Open championship this year but I feel the RandA have made the right decisions based on people’s health and safety. See you all in Royal St George’s in 2021 pic.twitter.com/zr7uS80lgH
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) April 6, 2020
Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said: "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."
St Andrews will now host in 2022 rather than 2021.
Offaly golfer Shane Lowry is the reigning Open champion, after he famously won the competition last year.
