February's New Zealand Golf Open has become another casualty of the coronavirus, with the 2021 event cancelled.
The 102nd edition of the tournament was scheduled for Millbrook Resort and The Hills in Queenstown early next year, but will now take place from February 17-20, 2022.
The announcement follows the cancellation of Australia's four major golf tournaments - the Australian Men's Open, the Australian Women's Open, the Australian PGA Championship and the Victorian Open - earlier this month.
Former All Blacks coach John Hart, who chairs the organising committee, says the decision was tough to make.
"We are extremely disappointed to have had to come to this decision, but the effects of the pandemic, borders being closed and the financial risk associated with a potential later cancellation, due to any further COVID-19 outbreaks, means we have no other alternative other than to cancel this event now," says Hart.
"With up to 300 international participants coming from offshore - including professional players, amateur players, caddies and officials of our tour partners - we need absolute certainty now in terms of accessibility to New Zealand and this is clearly not possible.
"This is not a decision we have made lightly and we are particularly disappointed for the Queenstown region, who have suffered many setbacks during this COVID-19 era."
Aussie Brad Kennedy is the defending champion, while Michael Hendry was the last Kiwi to win the tournament in 2017.
