Watney first on PGA Tour to test positive for coronavirus

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.— Five-time PGA Tour winner Nick Watney tested positive Friday for the coronavirus, the first player with a confirmed infection since golf resumed a full schedule last week.

Watney i mmediately withdrew from the RBC

Heritage and must self-isolate for at least 10 days under the PGA Tour's protocols.

Watney played the opening round with Vaughn Taylor and Luke List, and a rules official notified them at the turn of the positive test.

On the course, Webb Simpson and B ry son DeChambeau traded birdies Friday morning in the RBC Heritage until Simpson got the last word with a 6-footer on his final hole for a 6-under 65 and a one-shot lead over DeChambeau (64) and Corey Conners (63).

DeChambeau made six birdies on his final nine holes, missing a 5-footer on No. 9.

Simpson was at 12-under 130, and scoring remained bunched. Thunderstorms rolled through the island late in the afternoon and halted play. Matt Fitzpatrick was at 9 under with three holes to play.

Rory McIlroy made sure he was still in the game. He ran off three birdies in a four-hole stretch around the turn and finished with a 66 to make the cut with one shot to spare, though he remained seven shots behind.

The two players right behind in the world ranking, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas, did enough to make the cut on the number. Jordan Spieth had another good finish with two birdies over his last four holes, but all that did was salvage a 70. He was six behind.