Kenya Open on European Tour postponed due to virus concerns

VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — The European Tour lost another tournament on its schedule this year because of the new coronavirus, saying the Kenya government has suspended all international meetings and conferences until a further review in a month.

The tour already has postponed tournaments in Malaysia and China that were scheduled for April. In a statement Friday, the tour said Kenya’s decision means the Magical Kenya Open next week in Nairobi will not happen.

European Tour chief Keith Pelley says officials will consider rescheduling the tournament later in the season, “but that remains simply a possibility right now — we have no definitive plans at this stage.”

“We understand and totally respect the decision made by the government of Kenya in these difficult times,” Pelley said.

The Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur had been scheduled for April 16-19. The China Open in Shenzhen had been set for April 23-26.

The next tournament on the schedule is the Indian Open in New Delhi on March 19-22. After that, the European Tour schedule goes to the Match Play in Texas and the Masters in Augusta, Georgia.

The next regular event is April 30 along the southern coast of Spain.