Cyclone scraps Australian golf event, threatens AFL season launch

 A cyclone bearing down on the east coast of Australia has scrapped a golf event and threatens to disrupt the launch of the Australian Football League season.

Golf officials called off the Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned WPGA Championship event on the Gold Coast following forecasts for extreme wind and flooding.

"The decision has been made to ensure the safety of players, staff, fans and all stakeholders, which remains the priority," organisers said in a statement on Tuesday.

Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall late on Thursday or early on Friday.

It could bring intense rainfall and life-threatening flash-flooding to the southeast of Queensland state and the northeast of New South Wales state, the Bureau of Meteorology said in its latest update.

The cyclone has thrown the AFL's season-opening match in doubt. The AFL is the top flight of Australian Rules football competition, the country's most popular winter sport.

The reigning champion Brisbane Lions are scheduled to play the Geelong Cats in Brisbane on Thursday.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said organisers were monitoring the situation.

"We have contingencies, and there are options with byes and the like. But at the moment, the game is scheduled for Thursday night," he said.

Other sporting events have been called off, including national championships of touch football.