John Catlin. File Pic.
Aug 5: American John Catlin and his caddie Nathan Mulrooney were kicked out of this week’s English Championship at Hanbury Manor, Hertfordshire, following a breach of its Covid-19 protocol.
It is learnt that the duo visited a local restaurant on the evening of Tuesday August 4, which meant they left the tournament bubble, which in turn compromised the Tour’s health guidelines. They were withdrawn from the tournament with immediate effect as a result.
Catlin said, “I apologise to my fellow players and everyone involved with the tournament this week for this error of judgement. I understand the European Tour’s decision and accept the sanction.”
Catlin will be replaced in the tournament by South African Wilco Nienaber.
Catlin has been of the players, who have played three tournaments since the European Tour re-started with a couple of tournaments in Austria. He was T-8 at Austrian Open and T-43 at Euram Open. He did not get to play the Betfred British Masters, but did play the Hero Open and made the cut while finishing T-51 last week.