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From Other Guides • MLB cancels series in Japan

March 19, 2003 - With war looming in Iraq, the world's golf tours seem to be unanimous in their thinking: Play away.

There has been much discussion about whether sports and entertainment events should be postponed or canceled when the U.S. and (some of) its allies launch their attack against Iraq.

Citing travel concerns, Major League Baseball has canceled its season-opening series in Japan between Oakland and Seattle. The NCAA discussed delaying the opening of its men's and women's basketball tournaments, but it appears now that only television coverage will be affected. The Academy Awards will go on as planned, but the "red carpet walk" has been canceled for security reasons.

You can bet that when war opens, organizers with some sports and entertainment events will give postponement or cancellation a second thought.

But the world's golf tours - if they are saying anything - are saying that they will continue as planned.

The PGA Tour, in Orlando, Fla., for the Bay Hill Invitational, is set to begin on Thursday.

In a report by Reuters, PGA Tour director of communications Bob Combs said, "Our plan is to play our events as scheduled. We have already significantly increased security. We have been vigilant and will remain vigilant."

NBC's television coverage of Bay Hill will likely be shuffled in the event of war. Speaking with Reuters, Senior Vice President of NBC Sports Jon Miller said, "We will make every effort to get Bay Hill on TV somewhere if it's being played."

That might mean transferring coverage to CNBC, Bravo or PAX, each of which is affiliated with NBC.

If the PGA Tour is going to play, you can bet the PGA Champions Tour will, as well. The Toshiba Senior Classic is scheduled to begin Friday in Newport Beach, Calif., with television coverage split between The Golf Channel and CNBC.

When contacted by About.com, The European PGA Tour's comment was mostly a "no comment."

Mitchell Platts, Director of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations for the European Tour, said: "We have a full field of 144, with Diego Borrego the defending champion, for the Madeira Island Open which is being played ... March 20-23, and Tour competition will continue with the Masters Tournament followed by the Algarve Open de Portugal at Vale do Lobo on April 17-20."

Gordon Simpson, the European Tour's director of communications, said that was "the only comment we are making about the subject."

The LPGA Tour has yet to offer any statement - which is probably statement enough. The LPGA's Safeway Ping tournament begins Friday in Phoenix and is Annika Sorenstam's first event of the year. It is scheduled to be televised on ESPN and ESPN2.

Poll: Do you think golf tournaments should be postponed when war begins?