The cancellation of this year’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters has dealt another blow to the Asian Tour’s already sparse 2020 schedule. The US$950,000 event was originally scheduled to take place at Taiwan Golf and Country Club on September 17-20.
The decision to cancel the long-running event was based on health and safety concerns as well as travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The tournament will return in 2021 in its traditional time slot.
This was the second cancellation of an Asian Tour event in recent weeks, following the early July announcement that the Hero Indian Open will not be staged this year.
Two Malaysians have won the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in the last five years, with Gavin Green triumphing in 2017 and Danny Chia in 2015. The tournament was inaugurated in 1987 and has been held annually on the Asian Tour from 2004. It was announced earlier this year that the total prize purse will be increased to US$950,000 from US$900,000.
In last year’s edition, Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai clinched his Asian Tour breakthrough with a one-shot victory. Local legend Lu Wen-teh boasts the most wins in the event with four (1994, 1996, 2007 and 2008) and is the only player to have successfully defended the title.
The Asian Tour is scheduled to resume with the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea on September 10-13, followed by the Panasonic Open in Japan two weeks later.
For the updated Asian Tour schedule, click here
