The Honda LPGA Thailand, due to take place from February 20 to 23 in Pattaya, and the HSBC Women’s World Championship, scheduled to be held from February 27 to March 1 in Singapore, have been removed from the tour schedule.

The latter is one of the biggest on the LPGA Tour and offers a $1.5 million (£1.2 million/€1.4 million) purse.

"It is always a difficult decision to cancel events and the LPGA greatly appreciates the understanding and all the efforts made by our title sponsors (Honda and HSBC) as well as IMG to host incredible events for our players," an LPGA statement reads.

"The health and safety of our players, fans and everyone working on the event is always our highest priority. 

"While we are disappointed that these tournaments will not take place this season, we look forward to returning to Asia soon."

The LPGA also cancelled the Blue Bay LPGA in Chinese province Hainan last month due to the coronavirus outbreak.

That event had been set to run from March 5 to 8.

"Any time you cancel an event, it is a difficult decision and we appreciate how hard our title partner (Blue Bay), IMG, the China LPGA and the China Golf Association have worked to host an incredible event," an LPGA statement read at the time.

The World Health Organization has declared coronavirus as a global emergency.

More than 900 people have died and there are more than 40,000 cases in 28 countries and territories, with the vast majority of these in China.