Another iconic San Diego event has been canceled for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The IMG Academy Junior World Championship will not be played as scheduled in July, said Megan Mahoney, executive director for Junior World and the San Diego Junior Golf Association. Golf Digest first reported the news.
The event has been held in San Diego every year since 1968, with past winners including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Amy Alcott and Lorena Ochoa. Some 1,200 golfers from more than 50 countries compete each year.
“The board voted to cancel the event today,” Mahoney said Thursday via email. “Very sad day for the SDJGA to say the least.”
Asked if the board considered delaying the event in the hopes that health situation would improve later in the summer, Mahoney said that wasn’t workable.
“There were so many layers … player, staff, volunteer safety concerns, travel concerns, financial commitments, etc. Delaying was not an option given the size of the event, international delegations and the fact that most kids go back to school in the fall,” she said.
