2021 Vic Open cancelled
MAJOR BLOW: COVID forces organisers to scrap tournament
INTERNATIONAL travel restrictions and border closures have forced the cancellation of the Vic Open at Thirteenth Beach in February.
It follows the scrapping of the Australian PGA Championship, Australian Open and Women’s Australian Open.
Organisers of the Barwon Heads event were initially hoping to find an arrangement to go ahead with it next year, but were unsuccessful.
In a bumper 2020 event, Australian Min Woo Lee won the men’s trophy, while Heeyoung Park, of South Korea, claimed the women’s event.
Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said it was a “disappointing” decision.
“We’re very proud of how far the Vic Open came since the mixed concept was put together, and we’re more than aware of how popular it has become,” Sutherland said.
“We’ve tried to make it happen, but the call had to be made.”
The event draws thousands of players, officials, volunteers and fans to the course annually and its prizemoney — which is equal for men and women — has grown from $150,000 in 2012 to $3m in 2020.
Issues behind the decision included the ability to provide a safe environment for players, and lack of certainty on quarantine and border regulations.
Sutherland said organisers looked at contingencies such as the creation of a “bubble”, but determined it was not viable.
He told RSN on Thursday that organisers considered implementing an Australian-only event.
“We thought very carefully about having an event that didn’t necessarily attract the international players and how that may be co-joined with other events that may be playing around the country,” he said.
“(But) on top of that the challenges with social distancing, crowds and biosecurity hubs, when people are moving around, it’s actually a little bit more challenging for golf than it is ... even in a stadium environment.
“It’s just too difficult with all of the challenges, including getting the best talent in the field.”