Hong Kong Open golf postponed as protests grip city

Next week's Hong Kong Open, one of biggest golf tournaments in Asia, was postponed on Wednesday following months of anti-government protests in city. "Regretfully European Tour, in conjunction with our tournament co-sanctioning partner at Asian Tour, has taken decision to postpone next week's Hong Kong Open," a European Tour statement said. European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said he hoped event, whose winners include Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie and Peter Thomson, could be rescheduled for early next year.

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" decision has been taken due to ongoing level of social unrest in Hong Kong," Pelley said.

"As safety of our players, staff, stakeholders and everyone involved in each and every one of our tournaments around world is our top priority, we feel this is correct, but unfortunate, course of action."

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Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant said: "It is regrettable that Hong Kong Open has to be postponed due to ongoing unrest in city. " unpredictability of current situation in Hong Kong makes it very challenging to sanction tournament especially with safety of every one of utmost importance. "However, we are optimistic that once situation in Hong Kong stabilizes, we will be in a better position to sanction 61st edition of Hong Kong Open in very near future." 

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