The European Tour has called off next week’s Magical Kenya Open after talks with the African country’s government because of the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

THE European Tour has cancelled its third tournament as the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) claimed the Magical Kenya Open as the latest sporting event to be cancelled.

The Government of Kenya announched its decision today (Friday) to postpone all meetings and conferences of an international nature in the country.

With the numbers of people infected with Coronavirus outside of China, continuing to grow daily, the Magical Kenya Open – presented by sponsors Absa – which was scheduled to take place at the Karen Country Club, in Nairobi, next week (March 12-15), will now not take place.

The European and Asian Tour announced that April’s Maybank Championship in Malaysia, and the Volvo China Open, were being postponed because of the Coronavirus outbreak, in the middle of February.

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “We understand and totally respect the decision made by the Government of Kenya in these difficult times.

“We are looking into the possibility of rescheduling the tournament at some point later in the season, but that remains simply a possibility right now – we have no definitive plans at this stage.

“I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank president Uhuru Kenyatta and the Kenyan Government for their unwavering support, alongside Kenya Open Golf chairman Peter Kanyago and tournament director Patrick Obath for their strenuous efforts and commitment.

“We look forward to returning to Kenya in due course.”

The suspension of international events by the Kenyan government will be reviewed in a month’s time.

But with Pelley admitting it was only a possibility the Kenyan Open could rescheduled, European Tour players who are not in the world’s top 50 – and therefore exempt on the PGA Tour – face a dearth of golf over the next two months.

There are now no European Tour events scheduled for five weeks in a row – including the week of The Masters at Augusta (April 91-12) – starting from the World Golf Championship World Match Play Championship, in Austin, Texas, in the last week of March (25-29).

After this week’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, the next European Tour event is scheduled to be the Hero Indian Open, from March 19-22 – but then there is no tournament until the Estrella Damm NA Andalucia Masters, at Valderrama, from April 30-May 3.

The original 2020 European Tour schedule comprised 44 events including the four Majors, plus the Ryder Cup against the USA at Whistlling Straits, in Wisconsin, in September.

•To see the full European Tour schedule click here.

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KIWI Michael Campbell has ensured this year’s Scottish Senior Open at Craigielaw Golf Club will be a star-studded affair with the biggest gathering of Major Champions in the event’s 27-year history.

Campbell, who captured the 2005 US Open Championship by holding off Tiger Woods at Pinehurst No. 2, will join fellow Major winners Sandy Lyle, Paul Lawrie and Ian Woosnam in a high-class field for the £250,000 event in East Lothian, from August 16-18.

An eight-time winner on the European Tour, Campbell turned 50 in February and has played on the Staysure Tour recently at The Senior Open, and last week at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, where he eagled the 72nd hole to finish in a share of second place.

However, the visit to Craigielaw – which hosts the tournament for a second successive year – almost represents something of a ‘homecoming’ for Campbell, who can trace his Scottish ancestry back to his great-great-great grandfather, Sir Logan Campbell, who emigrated to New Zealand and became Mayor of Auckland.

Scotland almost provided the Wellington golfer with his first Major Championship, as he led by two shots after three rounds of The Open over the famous Old Course at St Andrews in 1995.

In the event, he faded with a closing 76 to take third place behind John Daly and Costantino Rocca.

Without doubt, 2005 was the high spot of his professional career. In addition to landing the US Open, he also picked up £1million – then the biggest prize in golf – by beating Paul McGinley in the final of the World Match Play at Wentworth.

He was honoured in the New Year Honours List in 2006 by being made a Companion of New Zealand’s Order of Merit.

Campbell will be renewing old acquaintances at Craigielaw with Lyle, winner of The Open in 1985 and the 1988 Masters Tournament, Lawrie, the 1999 Open Champion and Welshman Woosnam, who slipped on the Green Jacket as Masters winner in 1991.

Campbell is set to tee it up in Scotland for the first time in six years and admitted he is looking forward to competing on Scottish links once again.

“It’s been a few years since I played in Scotland,” said Campbell. “I think my last appearance was in the Dunhill Links Championship when I hurt my achilles tendon and had to pull out after three holes.

“However, I have some great memories of the Home of Golf. I will never forget my first appearance at St Andrews in The Open in 1995 when I led by two shots after three rounds – and just missed out of a play-off with John Daly and Costantino Rocca. It was an amazing experience.

“Although I don’t have first-hand knowledge of Craigielaw, I’ve played several of the courses in East Lothian over the years.

“I remember shooting 59 at Kilspindie – and I look forward to going back to that special part of the country.”

Entrance to the course is free and parking is only £5 in aid of Longniddry & District Rotary Club.

With proof of purchase of a ticket to the recent Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open there is no charge for parking.

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