“Considering the latest information and expert analysis, we have decided to postpone the Masters,” Fred Ridley, president of Augusta National Golf Club, said in a statement.

The event, which was to be held between April 9 and 12, was not cancelled, so the reigning winner of the tournament, Tiger Woods, may have a chance to retain his title if the competition is held on another date.

The coronavirus pandemic, which has paralyzed U.S. and much of the world’s sport, also forced Ridley to postpone the Augusta women’s amateur tournament and the junior Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.

“In the end the health and welfare of all the people associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community (in the state of Georgia) led us to make this decision,” Ridley said.

“We hope this postponement will put us in the best position to safely host the Masters tournament and our amateur events at some later date,” he added.

Augusta National usually closes its doors shortly after the tournament in which the best golfers in the world participate and reopens them later in the year. It is therefore possible that the Masters could be held in a few months, probably at the end of the season.

On Thursday, the PGA Tour had cancelled The Players Championship, the first day of which was played, and two other tournaments that were taking place before the Augusta Masters.

The next major of the season is the PGA Championship (May 14-17) at TPC Hardink Park in San Francisco, an area especially affected by the coronavirus.