PGA Tour has first positive test result
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Bryson DeChambeau and Webb Simpson were trading birdies with vastly different games. Top-ranked Rory McIlroy ran off enough birdies to make the cut. The biggest move of the day at the RBC Heritage, though, belonged to a player who made it to the course but not the tee at Harbour Town Golf Links.
Nick Watney became a footnote in golf history Friday as the PGA Tour’s first player to test positive for the novel coronavirus.
The 39-year-old American with five career wins on the PGA Tour tested negative when he arrived Tuesday, experienced symptoms Friday consistent with COVID19 — the disease caused by the novel coronavirus — and took another test that came back positive. He now faces self-isolation for at least 10 days as the tournament goes on.
Watney, who did not return a telephone call seeking comment, played the opening round with former Baylor School and Vanderbilt standout Luke List as well as Vaughn Taylor, and a rules official notified those two of the positive test at the turn Friday.
List was coming off a win Sunday at the Korn Ferry Challenge, where one player and three caddies tested positive before the event at TPC Sawgrass and did not come to the course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Two other people associated with the Korn Ferry Tour — but not players — tested positive before this week’s event on the second-tier circuit, also in Florida.
List missed the 4-under cut at the RBC Heritage, with his second-round 73 following an opening 69.
“It was hard to concentrate out there for me, just thinking about different stuff, and I wasn’t playing my best anyway,” List said. “It would
be nice if they had an option — you can kind of say if you want to know or not in a situation like that. I would definitely like to find out after the round next time.”
As for another test, List said even if tested, “it might not show up until a few days down the road. So there’s a lot of different scenarios.”
Taylor was just two strokes worse than his opening 69 and was tied for 28th at 6 under.
“I was a little shocked, to be honest,” Taylor said of hearing of Watney’s positive result. “Heart started racing, got a little nervous. Just hope Nick’s doing well and we get through this.”
Taylor said he had no close contact with Watney on Thursday, and he washed his hands immediately after that round.
“Nick never coughed or sneezed, so I feel comfortable,” he said.
As part of the contact tracing plan, List, Taylor and their caddies were to be tested immediately.
McIlroy said he chatted with Watney on the putting green from a distance, but that Watney sent him a text about the positive result after McIlroy finished his round.
“He was just saying, ‘Look, I hope I didn’t get too close to you.’ He feels badly that he was here today at the golf course,” McIlroy said. “I said to him, ‘If I was in your position, I probably would have been here, too. At this point, you just have to concentrate on getting better and getting healthy.’”
The PGA Tour had no positive tests of the 487 administered last week for the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as none among the 98 players tested before taking the charter to Hilton Head Island or the 369 tests for those arriving on their own. Players, caddies and essential personnel have mandatory tests.
“For the health and well-being of all associated with the tournament those within the community, the tour has begun implementing its response plan in consultation with medical experts, including working with those who may have had close contact with Nick,” tour officials said in a prepared statement.
The PGA Tour said it would not comment further, but the weekend buzz at Harbour Town figures to be about more than just birdies and bogeys.
Simpson got the last word Friday with a six-foot birdie on his final hole at No. 9 for another 6-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead after another day of watching DeChambeau and his additional 40 pounds of mass swing out of his shoes for a 64. DeChambeau made six birdies on his back nine, missing a five-footer on the last that would have tied for the lead.
Instead, he settled for a 64 and was tied for second with Canada’s Corey Conners, who had a bogey-free 63 to reach 11 under.
“It’s very satisfying knowing I’m not near as long as some of these guys and I’m able to kind of use my skills of distance control and shot shape to pick me back up when I’m 40 yards or 30 yards behind these guys,” Simpson said. “I would like to hit it further. I set out on a journey three years ago to get stronger, hit it further, but do it a lot slower than Bryson. But he’s made it look easy and seamless.”
Former Baylor School and University of Georgia golfer Harris English (70) was tied for 45th at 5 under. Keith Mitchell, another former Red Raider and Bulldog, followed his opening 70 with a 72 and missed the cut.