South Korean golfer Park Gyeol tees off in the 10th hole during the first round of the 42nd KLPGA Championship in Yangju, northeast of Seoul on Thursday. Photo: AFP

 

Birdsong and the rattle of the ball dropping into the cup - accompanied by camera shutters - were the only sounds to be heard as professional women's golf entered the post-coronavirus era on a closed South Korean course Thursday.

Spectators were barred from the Lakewood Country Club as the ­KLPGA Championship got under way in Yangju, northeast of Seoul, with a host of social distancing measures in place to guard against infection.

It is the first high-level women's golf to be played since the US-based LPGA suspended its season in February, and with sports fans around the world starved of live action rights have been sold to broadcasters in countries including the US, Canada and Australia.

World No.3 and double major winner Park Sung-hyun, sixth-ranked Kim Sei-young - a nine-time winner on the LPGA Tour - and No.10 Lee Jeong-eun are part of a 150-strong field chasing the $180,000 winner's check from a tournament purse of $2.5 million, the highest in the event's 42-year history. 

Players are advised to keep two ­meters apart on the course and minimize physical contact, while touching the pin without gloves is ­prohibited.  

They have to wear masks before and after their rounds, but can choose whether or not to do so during play, with most deciding to remain uncovered Thursday.

But with no spectators the course was devoid of oohs and aahs, or even applause, on Thursday.

"Usually a lot of fans show up, more here in Korea than in the US," the sixth-ranked Kim said. "But I'm thankful for just even being able to play."   

Apart from the host broadcaster, media coverage on the course is restricted to the first and 10th tees, with personnel required to wear face masks throughout.   

Everyone entering the course had their temperature checked and had to provide their personal information.  

And players have to eat their meals alone to maintain social distancing, with no caddies or family members allowed to sit at the same table in the lounge.

The tournament comes after South Korea - which endured one of the worst early outbreaks of the disease but has brought it under control with a widespread "trace, test and treat" programme - saw professional football and baseball resume last week, also behind closed doors.