KARACHI, Dec 4: The Pakistan Open Golf Championship is likely to be switched from January to March next year due to the security situation in the country.

A Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) official said on Thursday that in the current situation it was almost impossible to successfully host the prestigious tournament in January which is why the PGF has managed to get a new time slot for the event allotted in March.

Taimur Hassan, the PGF secretary, said that the Asian Tour — the body that governs the Asian professional circuit — has agreed to sanction a window for the 2009 Pakistan Open in March.

Taimur, one of the most prominent Pakistan golfers, said that the PGF is trying its best to deliver a successful edition of the Pakistan Open which is the country’s premier golfing event.

But he said that the task has become tough in the current scenario as international sportsmen have been showing reluctance in touring Pakistan.

Several cricket and hockey events in Pakistan have either been cancelled or postponed because international teams are unwilling to come here for security reasons.

The Pakistan Open carries a prize money of $400,000.

—Agencies