Lee Westwood confident of a safe return for British Masters
TOURNAMENT HOST Lee Westwood is confident the “military-style” approach taken by the European Tour will ensure a safe return to action at this week’s Betfred British Masters during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
After successfully staging two co-sanctioned events in Austria with the Challenge Tour over the past fortnight, the full European Tour returns to action for the first time since March at Close House on the outskirts of Newcastle.
All players, caddies and officials were tested for Covid-19 before travelling to the venue and again when arriving on site, with anyone testing positive being forced out of the 1.25million euro event and forced to self-isolate.
Seven PGA Tour players and
several caddies have tested positive for Covid-19 since the United States-based circuit resumed competition last month.
“We’ve taken all precautions, the last two weeks in Austria were quite successful and the last thing we want is to make the situation worse and be the cause of more cases,” said Westwood.
“It’s up to us to be very careful and so far, from what I’ve witnessed, people are sticking to it by the letter, wearing masks and staying away from each other as much as they can.
“I was amazed at the system the European Tour have set up. We all got tested before we travelled and then once at the event the testing procedure has been very thorough. Everyone that has been through it can only have found it impressive and it’s military-style almost.”
Lindrick’s Bailey Gill, 23, is in the field on a sponsors’ invite and Howley Hall’s European Tour player Marcus Armitage is also competing.