Vaccinated PGA Tour players won’t need COVID-19 tests

WASHINGTON — Players on the PGA Tour and affiliated circuits who have been fully vaccinated no longer will be required to take COVID-19 tests to play in tournaments, Golf Digest reported on Tuesday.

“As the COVID-19 vaccine is becoming more readily available, more individuals are being vaccinated,” said an email sent to players, obtained by the publication.

“PGA Tour Health and Safety protocol requires individuals to continue testing onsite until 14 full days have passed since their second dose (Moderna & Pfizer) or 14 full days since their single dose (Johnson & Johnson).

“Once 14 days have passed, individuals are no longer required to take a COVID-19 test when considered ‘inside the bubble’ at PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions or Korn Ferry Tour events.”

The protocol also applies to others in the PGA bubble, which includes caddies, coaches and others.

They must upload their vaccination cards to the app the tour has used to relay virus-related communications since the pandemic started last year.

Commissioner Jay Monahan said in December that vaccination "is a choice," and the tour has not made the shots mandatory.

Still, he said at the Players Championship in March that he hoped golfers and others on their teams would make that choice.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday that 36.4 per cent of Americans 18 and older have received one dose of the vaccine, with 22,3% fully vaccinated with two doses.