No. 1 golfer Johnson, soccer’s Ronaldo test positive, in isolation
Dustin Johnson became the most prominent player to test positive for the coronavirus since golf resumed in June, forcing him to withdraw Tuesday from the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.
The PGA Tour said in a statement that Johnson notified officials he was experiencing COVID19 symptoms and was given another test that came back positive.
Johnson is the No. 1 player in the world and the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year after winning the FedEx Cup for the first time. He has not played since he tied for sixth at the U. S. Open last month.
“Obviously, I am very disappointed,” Johnson said in a statement. “I was really looking forward to competing this week, but will do everything I can to return as quickly as possible. I have already had a few calls with the tour’s medical team and appreciate all the support and guidance they have given me.”
Johnson is the 12th player to test positive at a tournament or at home since the PGA Tour resumed its schedule June 8.
It comes one week after Tony Finau, at No. 16 in the world, tested positive with minor symptoms and withdrew from the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.
Still to be determined is whether Johnson is able to play the Zozo Championship at Sherwood next week in Thousand Oaks ( Ventura County).
“He was really, really looking forward to these two weeks,” said David Winkle, his manager at Hambric Sports.
Winkle said Johnson came to Las Vegas early to practice, and he received a negative test Sunday.
“He started experiencing symptoms later that night,” Winkle said. “He took it easy on Monday and thought maybe he was coming down with a cold. He had a little chest congestion. He went back and was tested this morning.”
Under the protocols on the PGA Tour, which are based on guidance from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Johnson is to selfisolate for 10 days dating to when he first experienced symptoms and can return if there are no other symptoms.
Ronaldo tests positive:
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the latest marquee soccer player to test positive for the coronavirus.
The Portuguese soccer federation said Ronaldo was doing well and had no symptoms after he tested positive while with his country’s national team. He was in isolation and was dropped from the country’s Nations League match against Sweden on Wednesday in Lisbon.
Ronaldo, one of the most prolific goal scorers in the sport’s history, played in the 00 draw at France in the Nations League on Sunday and in the 00 draw against Spain in a friendly last week.
On Monday, the Juventus forward posted a photo on Twitter and Instagram showing him and the rest of the Portugal squad having a meal together. The players were all close to each other at a table.
Players who tested positive for the virus recently include Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba, Paulo Dybala, Angel Di Maria, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Diego Costa. College football: No. 10 Florida has five new virus cases. The school reported its latest testing results four days before the Gators host defending national champion LSU.
Head coach Dan Mullen praised the way his team has handled coronavirus protocols Monday, avoiding a major outbreak with the highly transmissible virus. The team had 21 positive cases once players returned to campus in late May, but it has dealt with 16 positive cases since then.