Cromwell, Connecticut, US, June 24: Four-time Major winner, and current No. 4, Brooks Koepka’s excitement of playing in the same tournament as his brother, Chase, whom he saw come through a Monday qualifier, was short-lived as he withdrew from the Travelers Championship after his caddie, Ricky Elliott, tested positive for COVID-19.
Koepka’s withdrawal came within hours of Graeme McDowell’s withdrawal for a similar reason, after his caddie, Ken Comboy, tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
A total of five players have withdrawn on account of some association with Covid-19. However, only Cameron Champ has tested positive, while Brooks Koepka, his young brother Chase, who got into the field through Monday qualifiers, McDowell and last week’s winner Webb Simpson withdrew as someone they had been in contact with tested positive. In Simpson’s case it was a family member.
“I haven’t tested positive for COVID-19, but as I’ve said all along, I’m taking this very seriously. I don’t want to do anything that might jeopardize the health of any player in the field or his ability to compete,” Brooks Koepka said in a statement. “The right thing to do right now is get home, support Ricky and feel confident that I’m doing what I can do protecting my fellow Tour members, my PGA Tour friends and everyone associated with the Travelers Championship this week.”
Soon after Chase Koepka also withdrew after issuing a statement that he had come in contact with someone who had tested positive. That could possibly have been someone from elder brother Brooks’ team and possibly caddie, Elliott. Brooks had come to see Chase Monday qualify for the tournament in five-for-two play-off.
Also withdrawing was last week’s winner at RBC Heritage, Simpson. He said one of his family members tested positive for COVID-19. Simpson’ssecond victory of the year saw him jump to No. 5 in world rankings.
Simpson issued a statement, saying, “In the last 24 hours, I had a family member test positive for COVID_19. While my tests this week were negative, I feel like it is my responsibility to take care of my family and protect my peers in the field by withdrawing from the Travelers Championship.” He added, “I am going to return home to Charlotte and quarantine under CDC guidelines, and I look forward to returning to competition after that time period.”
Cameron Champ tested positive on arrival and withdrew.
Among some earlier withdrawals, though not linked to Covid-19, was Charles Schwab winner, Daniel Berger, who withdrew on Sunday night after finishing third at RBC Heritage. Also pulling out for personal reasons were Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker and Nate Lashley.
Stern warning by PGA Tour Commissioner
PGA Tour Commissioner issued a stern warning in his memo and also told a Press Conference, “All of us have an extraordinary responsibility to follow those protocols. For any individual that does not, there will be serious repercussions, and I’m not going to get into the specifics of it.
“But everybody knows and needs to know that our future, our ability to sustain this business and to impact the communities where we play and to create so many jobs is contingent on our ability to follow those protocols.
“So when we have instances where someone hasn’t, they will be dealt with, and as I said, the consequences will be significant.”
He also added, “We have developed a program, a stipend program, for players on our tours, if they were to test positive during the week or during competition, and to be able to be eligible for those protocols, we’ve just reconfirmed for our players, you must follow our protocols in order to qualify for the stipend.”
Koepka, McDowell played practice round together
Koepka and McDowell had played a practice round together on Tuesday, while their caddies, as also McDowell went to the funeral of a close friend on Orlando on Monday. Earlier, McDowell’s caddie did not fly into the venue on his plane as there was not enough place and instead took a commercial flight from Dallas to Orlando after the Charles Schwab Challenge.
Koepka issued a statement saying, “
by the TSN, as saying, “I’m going to pull out to protect everybody else. I think it’s the right thing to do,” Koepka said. “I don’t want to risk anyone’s life if they have respiratory issues or underlying conditions. The only way this Tour can continue is if guys to do this sort of thing and be proactive about it.”
All player interviews for Wednesday afternoon were cancelled, while the PGA commissioner Jay Monahan held a press conference.
Koepka and Elliott were both tested Monday and received negative results before Elliott received a positive test on Wednesday morning. “We all got tested Monday—myself, (coach Claude Harmon) and Ricky. We all came back negative,” Koepka said. “We had no symptoms. Nothing.”
Earlier on Tuesday night in US, McDowell said, “For the protection of the field and for my own physical and mental well-being, I’m going to take a test tomorrow morning then jump on a private plane. I’m going to get myself out of here, home to Florida and decide whether I need to quarantine myself from my family.”
McDowell himself tested negative on Monday and is experiencing no symptoms. Comboy’s positive test was returned on Tuesday.
Cameron Champ becomes second Covid positive test on PGA Tour
