Shanghai, China: The WGC-HSBC Champions, one of Asia’s showpiece golfing events, has been cancelled for the second year in a row due to on-going issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The US$10.25 million tournament – the only World Golf Championships outside the United States – was due to take place at Shanghai’s Sheshan International Golf Club from October 28-31.

Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and European Tour, the event had originally been scheduled to take place in October 2020, but was called off because of travel and quarantine rules brought on by the virus.

“Following discussions with HSBC, we can confirm the cancellation of the 2021 WGC-HSBC Champions,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, speaking at a press conference ahead of this week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta.

“Although it’s unfortunate to have to do so, we must ensure that we abide by the epidemic prevention policies of different markets which may cause inconvenience to the players and make tournament operations very challenging.

“Therefore, after careful consideration, we had to make this difficult decision to cancel the event.”

Rory McIlroy triumphed the last time the event was staged in 2019, repelling the challenge of Xander Schauffele in a play-off.

Monahan added that the ZOZO Championship would take place as planned at Narashino Country Club outside Tokyo from October 21-24.

“ZOZO has been a great partner and we have been in regular contact with the government and local authorities about the plans to successfully stage this event this fall,” Monahan said.

“The successful and safe golf competitions at the Tokyo Olympic games helped provide some confidence going forward there.”

It had previously been announced that the CJ Cup – the third stop on the PGA Tour’s Asian swing – would be moved from its original home in Korea to Las Vegas for the second year in succession.