“An absolute zoo”: Positive test, busy island rattle Tour golfers
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.» Carlos Ortiz headed for dinner near the Harbour Town lighthouse and it felt like old times, which didn’t necessarily mean good times.
This idyllic island is a summer destination, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s a 30-minute wait, and once you get in there, there’s no social distancing, packed tables right next to each other, kids running around,” Ortiz said Saturday at the RBC Heritage. “We were impressed how nobody was wearing a mask. We talked about it on Tuesday when we saw it. We were like, ‘Oh, somebody’s going to get corona here.’ ”
Three days later, Nick Watney became the first PGA Tour player to test positive for the coronavirus.
The tour put in motion part of its plan to handle such a result, starting with 11 additional tests for anyone who might have come in close contact with Watney. The initial tests all came back negative — including Tony Navarro, his caddie, and Vaughn Taylor, who played with Watney on Thursday.
Results from a second test were expected late Saturday or Sunday.
Golf made it through 11 days of its return before getting a positive test. The question now becomes who’s next, or how many more, before the show can’t go on.
Rory Mcilroy, who chatted with Watney on the putting green shortly before the test result was returned, says sheer numbers made it impossible to think no one in golf would test positive. He was not part of the contact tracing because “we kept our distance.”
“We’re still in the middle of a pandemic,” Mcilroy said. “I think we’ve done really well to start golf again and get back up and play golf tournaments. I don’t think anyone was blind to the fact that someone could catch the virus, and it’s a shame Nick did. But as I said, it’s one case.”
More stories emerged of a South Carolina resort that was busy as ever, even though fans aren’t allowed on the golf course.
The tournament is typically played in April, the week after the Masters, when school is still in session. With the pandemic shutting down golf for three months, the RBC Heritage originally was canceled, and then moved to June after the Canadian Open was canceled and the U.S. Open was moved to September.
“Even if you wanted to go somewhere, there’s no place to go,” Joel Dahmen said.
Watney must self-isolate for at least 10 days. It ends provided he has no subsequent symptoms or has two negative test results at least 24 hours apart.
Under the tour’s 37-page “Return to Golf” protocols, players have a designated hotel that is not mandatory. They are urged not to eat out at restaurants, also a recommendation for caddies and the essential personnel who must be tested when they arrive at every tournament.
Justin Thomas is staying in a villa with Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler. Thomas was among those who noted how busy it was on the island.
“No offense to Hilton Head, but they’re seeming to not take it very seriously,” he said. “It’s an absolute zoo around here. There’s people everywhere. The beaches are absolutely packed. Every restaurant, from what I’ve seen when I’ve been driving by, is absolutely crowded.”