Relief after a testing time for tour chiefs
IMAGINE the mood at PGA Tour HQ in Florida on Friday night as they awaited the results of 11 players and caddies who were traced and tested in the wake of the first positive Covid-19 result for American Nick Watney.
It is no exaggeration to say the immediate fate of the tour and tens of millions of dollars hung in the balance. As Brooks Koepka said in the aftermath of Watney’s shock verdict: ‘Let’s hope it just stays with him and doesn’t spread, otherwise we’ve got a big issue on our hands.’
Among those tested was Sergio Garcia, who had travelled by private plane with Watney to the RBC Heritage tournament staged at Hilton Head, South Carolina,
Watney’s two playing partners in the first round, Luke List and Vaughn Taylor, plus their caddies.
As the third round began yesterday, the outcome became known: all had tested negative. Cue sighs of relief, although a sense of nervousness remains.
Last evening was another big one in the testing cycle. The circus moves on to Connecticut this week and approximately 100 players planning on going on the tour’s chartered plane tomorrow were due to be tested. Anyone testing positive would not be allowed on the plane or to compete in the
Travelers Championship, which has attracted nine of the world’s top 10.
On the course, a handful of big names out early did their best to switch the focus back to the golf. World No 2 Jon Rahm, who could displace Rory McIlroy at the summit with a win, blitzed to the turn in 31 strokes but cooled off thereafter and had to settle for a 66. McIlroy went the other way, struggling early on but finding some rhythm on the back nine to return a 66 of his own.
The tricky Harbour Town layout hardly plays to the Northern Irishman’s strengths but he has shown plenty of grit and pride to bounce back from an opening round of 72 that left him in 117th position. When he finished his third round, he was actually inside the top 10, just three off the lead but, on a perfect day for low scoring, was certain to fall a few spots. On the event’s big news, McIlroy said: ‘I don’t think Nick’s positive test has changed the mood but we need to keep doing a good job of containing it so we can continue playing.’
The strong English contingent were making plenty of noise. Justin Rose shot 66 to keep pace with McIlroy. Matt Fitzpatrick was just two off the pace heading into his third round, one ahead of Ian Poulter.
Tyrrell Hatton, winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, was going great guns. He charged into contention with a secondround 64 and opened his third round by playing his front nine in 31 to move within one of the lead.