The Open focused on proceeding as scheduled, exploring contingencies

The R&A said Thursday it's continuing with plans for the 2020 Open Championship and Women's British Open while exploring contingency options if the events are forced to relocate or reschedule.

"We are undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of our plans to stage The 149th Open at Royal St George’s and the AIG Women’s British Open at Royal Troon, which are four and five months away respectively," the R&A said. "This includes examining a range of scenarios for staging the championships, with our focus on proceeding as planned, as well as considering other contingency options available to us."

Meanwhile, the 2019 Open champion, Shane Lowry, spoke about the possibility of being unable to defend the Claret Jug.

"Golf-wise, my big concern, and with the continuing postponing and canceling of tournaments, is whether the Open Championship will go ahead," Lowry said, according to Golf.com's Nick Piastowski. "Naturally, I would be very disappointed if the Open was to be canceled, but then in the bigger picture, the organizing bodies are reacting very professionally to the crisis and we will be guided by their advice."

The Irishman did manage to put a positive spin on the situation.

“I guess if they do call off the Open, I will get to be Open champion for two years and I will have to go celebrating again,” Lowry said.

The 149th running of the Open Championship is set to begin July 16. The Women's British Open is scheduled to start Aug. 20.