It’s terrible Nick caught Covid, lots of other people deserved to get it much more than him GARCIA GIVES A MASTERCLASS IN HOW NOT TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE AFTER PAL WATNEY IS ROCKED BY A POSITIVE VIRUS TEST

SERGIO GARCIA has claimed “other people” deserved to contract the coronavirus more than Nick Watney.

And Justin Thomas has accused Hilton Head – the venue for this week’s RBC Heritage – of being “an absolute zoo” with no regard for social distancing.

On Friday American Watney became the first PGA Tour player to test positive for Covid-19 since the re-start and withdrew from the tournament.

The world No.234 had missed the cut at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas the previous weekend and travelled to South Carolina on a private jet with Garcia.

“I felt terrible for Nick because he’s one of the nicest guys on Tour,” Garcia (with Watney, above) said. “Unfortunately It had to happen to him. There’s a lot of other people that deserved it a lot more than him.”

The former Masters champion (below) said he spent almost five hours waiting for the result of his second coronavirus test after Watney’s positive.

“When we landed on Tuesday we got tested and we were both negative so I was surprised to hear that Nick tested positive three days later,” he said. “I got my second test done yesterday, and I was negative. But only after a very anxious wait.”

Eleven players – including Rory Mcilroy, who spoke to Watney on the putting green – have been tested since Friday and all initial results were negative.

World No.3 Thomas said:

“The Tour has done all the protocols they can. Unfortunately, you can’t control guys going to get something to eat or whatever it might be, or staying in a hotel and ordering room service or whatever. No offence to Hilton Head, but they’re seeming to not take it very seriously. It’s an absolute zoo here.

“The beaches are absolutely packed. Every restaurant, from what I’ve seen, is absolutely crowded.

“Unfortunately, that’s not on Watney because I know he has done everything he can, but I would say a lot of people haven’t.” Thomas (cheered by fans, below) had moved into a share of the lead with two holes of his final round remaining when play was halted because of bad weather. He was on 17 under par, along with South African Dylan Frittelli, who had finished his round. Britain’s Ian Poulter (below, second right) and Tyrrell Hatton (below) were also in the hunt and had not long started their final rounds.