From left to right: Jin Young Ko and Sung Hyun Park

Jin Young Ko, the world number one in the Rolex World Golf Ranking, has not competed in an LPGA event for eight months, since the CME Group Tour Championship at the end of last season. Sung Hyun Park, number three in the Rolex WGR, also did not participate in the circuit during this same period.

Neither Ko nor Park will compete in the next four LPGA events, including the AIG Women's Open, the first major women's event of the year. Whether they will travel to the United States to play the second major tournament, the ANA Inspiration, in September, remains open.

"Due to concerns over COVID-19 situation in UK, Jin Young Ko does not plan to play AIG Women's Open"Ko's manager Hyomin Han told GolfChannel.com in an email exchange. “She's hoping to come back to the United States on the LPGA Tour, but doesn't have specific plans or dates in mind yet. We are waiting to see if the COVID-19 situation in the United States improves. "

Ko and Park are taking precautions when participating on the Korean LPGA Tour and are staying safe in their home country, South Korea, where their country has successfully contained the virus. The KLPGA has been operational since mid-May.

Ko took his first steps in over six months in June at the Lotte Cantata Ladies Open in South Korea, getting back into shape while finishing in 45th place. She was sixth at the Korea Women's Open on her last start.

"She is staying in Korea for the moment to avoid being exposed to the virus"Han wrote.

Park only played one KLPGA event amid the pandemic, missing the cut at the KLPGA Championship in May.

After the back-to-back Ohio events that kicked off this week and then Scotland, the US-based LPGA is expected to return to that country in late August for a series of six tournaments. Park's team is closely monitoring the progress of COVID-19 in the United States.

"We are constantly following the news regarding COVID-19 in the United States and should have a better idea of ​​Sung Hyun's playing schedule for the season by the end of August, at the latest."Park agent Kyuri Hong said in an email.

According to Johns Hopkins University, the United States accounts for about a quarter of COVID-19 death cases worldwide.

The nature of the LPGA majors is significantly altered without the best South Koreans. The South Koreans have won 19 of the last 39 major championships.

Sei Young Kim, world number 6, and Hyo Joo Kim, number 10, will also miss out on the next four LPGA events, including the AIG Women's Open. Two-time major champion Yeon Ryu will also not be attending.

Hyo Joo Kim won the Evian Championship in 2014.

"She doesn't plan to go to the British Open this year because of COVID-19"Hyo Joo's agent Hanjun Kim said in an email. “Since it's serious all over the world, it might be better for her not to travel overseas, even though it's a big event. "

Last week, the White House eased restrictions on PGA Tour and LPGA players and caddies entering the United States under established protocols. They will no longer be subject to 14-day quarantine periods

That still hasn't been enough to attract England's Lee Westwood and Eddie Pepperell to the United States for the first big tournament of the year, the PGA Championship to be held next week.

"I'm still not comfortable", Westwood said last weekend. “I am worried America is not taking the coronavirus as seriously as the rest of the world. "

A coordinated nationwide program of detection, containment and treatment has propelled South Korea among the world leaders in the fight against the pandemic, despite a recent increase that the Korean CDC attributes to people who carry the disease in the country since foreign. Korea's “immediate response teams” have been successful in helping that country quell the spread of the virus without the lockdowns other countries have suffered.

“As cities from Los Angeles to Melbourne to Tokyo grapple with re-outbreaks of the coronavirus, South Korea's plan is one of the most effective yet to contain a disease that killed more than 600 people worldwide ”Bloomberg News wrote on Monday.