PGA Tour Still Confident Despite 3 New Virus Positives
Two caddies and another Tour player, Cameron Champ, tested positive for COVID19 this week at the Travelers, and that has caused several to withdraw from the tournament.
Last week’s winner, Webb Simpson, and his caddie, Paul Tesori, also withdrew out of what they said was an abundance of caution. No further details were given.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan was calm, but insistent in a press conference at the tournament, saying that they believe in their protocols and that they are making some modifications and will make more, if necessary, to allow tournaments to be played in the weeks and months ahead.
“We knew it would be impossible to eliminate all risk, as evidenced by the three positive tests this week,” Monahan said.
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He did not outline all the specific changes, but indicated they were sent to all players
Currently, players using the charter flights are tested on Saturday prior to the Monday flight. If the results are good, players and caddies can use the charter.
“We’re going to add additional testing upon arrival in the following week’s tournament market so that everybody that’s arriving is going to the same testing protocol,” Monahan explained.
They are putting players’ instructors “in the bubble” as they call it, in the protected spaces and tested spaces, and those instructors will have to adhere to the same guidelines as the players and caddies.
Starting next week, the PGA Tour fitness trailers will return, the reason being that some players were going to off-site gyms to work out at tournaments. It was felt that making this change reduced one more variable. Players using the trailers will wear masks.
Monahan said that he did not believe that it was possible to eliminate all risk from the virus, but noted that the PGA Tour is doing everything possible, within reason, to reduce the risk as much as it can.
“Everybody knows and needs to know that our future, our ability to sustain this business and to impact the communities where we play and to create so many jobs is contingent on our ability to follow those protocols,” Monahan insisted. He noted that there will be penalties for those who don’t, but as it typical with the PGA Tour, no elaboration on that topic was given.
This week, in addition to Champ, Ken Comboy, Graeme McDowell’s caddie tested positive as did Ricky Elliott, Brooks Kopeka’s caddie. That has caused a domino effect of withdrawals.
McDowell withdrew because of his caddie’s test results. In a statement issued via the PGA Tour, McDowell said he did not bring Comboy to The Travelers, but withdrew anyway, just in case. He said he had felt more tired than usual, although his two tests this week had both come back negative.
“I am not keen on risking the possibility that I could pass it onto anyone else this week in Hartford,” he said.
McDowell plans to drive back to Florida from Connecticut rather than fly commercially.
“I’m just going to take the scenic route down the east coast of the USA for 17 hours and increase my knowledge of U.S. geography a bit,” he quipped.
Koepka withdrew because of his caddie’s positive results. Strangely, Elliott had tested negative two days earlier.
“We have got to do everything we can to not spread it. We have to protect the field. That’s the reason we have these rules,” Koepka insisted.
He and his coach Claude Harmon III have been tested and showed negative results. Their chef and Koepka’s girlfriend are now being tested and await the outcome. However, the Koepka contingent plans to return to Florida on a private plane.
As Koepka said, “I’m taking this seriously. I’ve had three months off with an injury, four months off with injury, three months off with sitting at home because of COVID, so there’s no — I’ve been eager to go play.”
So far as they can tell, the caddies, Comboy and Elliott, attended a funeral in Orlando on June 15, and that may have been where they were contaminated.
Kopeka’s brother, Chase, also withdrew, which is a shame for him since he has few PGA Tour opportunities.
Some may wonder what else could have been done, but since one branch of the Mayo Clinic is located less than 10 miles from PGA Tour headquarters, there is no doubt that they have easy access to the best medical advice possible. The Tour has been in contact with the Coronavirus Task force since the initial outbreak, and has followed all the protocols given to them.
According to the PGA Tour, it is up to each Tour member and each Tour member’s caddie and instructor to follow the rules they’ve been given. Those who don’t and end up with as positive test will surely be persona non grata with the rest of the players because that’s the way it works on Tour. Plus, there will likely be hefty fines, not to mention loss of income from not playing.