By Rahul Banerji
Confusion marked the end of day three at the Memorial Tournment with defending champion and leader-board topper Jon Rahm withdrawing after a positive Covid test.
Rahm was ahead of the field by six shots and was leaving the 18th tee when he was informed about the result of his test carried out late on the weather-hot second day.
Till then, the burly Spaniard had turned Muirfield Village into something of a carnival procession that left second-placed Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay flailing in his wake.
But Covid protocols brought what looked to be a celebration on Sunday to an abrupt end.
Having come in “close contact” with a Covid-positive person, Rahm was under constant testing with all results turning out negative starting Monday itself.
On Saturday though, the defending champion’s test late on Friday threw up a positive result.
Consequently, instead of signing for his card, Rahm was informed greenside that he had tested positive, and was escorted away along with his caddie from the venue.
As per the PGA Tour’s guidelines, Rahm withdrew from his title defence and will now spend the next 10 days in isolation.
He will emerge on June 15, just two days ahead of the US Open at Torrey Pines, having thrown the tournament at Jack Nicklaus’ venue into turmoil.
PGA Tour statenent
“On the evening Monday, May 31, the PGA Tour notified Jon Rahm that he was subject to contact-tracing protocols, as he had come in close contact with a person who was COVID positive,” the Tour said.
“Per the Tour’s Covid Health & Safety Plan, Rahm was given the option to remain in the competition and enter our tracing protocol, which includes daily testing and restricted access to indoor facilities.
“Rahm has remained asymptomatic.
“Rahm has tested negative every day, but his most recent test – which was performed after the conclusion of his second round (rain delayed) and before the start of his third round – returned positive at approximately 4:20 p.m. ET while Rahm was on the golf course.
“The PGA Tour’s medical advisor requested a confirmatory test on the original sample, which came back at 6:05 p.m. ET, and was also positive.
“The PGA Tour’s medical advisor notified Rahm immediately upon completion of his round, and under TOUR protocols, he will be withdrawn from the competition.
“Rahm is now in isolation, and in accordance with CDC guidelines, he will need to remain in isolation through Tuesday, June 15.
“While this is an incredibly unfortunate situation, throughout 50 events since the PGA Tour’s Return to Golf, there have been only four positive tests (including Rahm) within competition;
“Rahm is the first positive, asymptomatic case as part of the Tour’s routine, contact-tracing protocols.”
Jon Rahm tweet
“I’m very disappointed in having to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament
“This is one of those things that happens in life, one of those moments where how we respond to a setback defined us as people.
“I’m very thankful that my family and I are all OK. I will take all the necessary precautions to be safe and healthy, and I look forward to returning to the golf course as soon as possible.
“Thank you to all of the fans for their support and I’m looking forward to watching the showdown tomorrow afternoon with yo all.”
Reactions
While many reactions were supportive of the Tour’s action, golfer Jimmy Walker took exception to what had transpired.
“Let him play@pgatour @jonrahm should play Sunday. By himselfif need be. Period,” Walker tweeted.
“I can’t get behind this decision. I’ve heard from the higher ups and it is not what they want but it is the Govt and CDC calling the shots so yell at them… Yell at the people in power.”
“I’d send Jon Rahm at sunrise all by himself and fumigate the course behind him. Poor bastard,” tweeted another.
A third pointed out that with the withdrawal, Rahm would lose out on a possible winner’s cheque of $1.674 million.
New leaders
Morikawa (66-72-66) and Cantlay (69-67-68) go into Sunday’s final round now as co-leaders on 12-under 204, while Rahm’s scintillating run of 69-65-64, 18-under 198 will be of no consequence.
On Saturday, played 23 holes, including a second-round hole-in-one from 188 yards on the par-3 16th.
Branden Grace and Scottie Scheffler, both of whom have had the virus, are three strokes behind the joint leaders on 9-under 207s.
The last time a leader or co-leader withdrew prior to the start of the following round was Hunter Mahan at the 2013 RBC Canadian Open (withdrew 50 minutes before his third-round tee time when his wife went into labour).
Also read: Mickelson hits bombs, throws darts in Sunday’s historic PGA victory
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