First PGA Tour Golfer Tests Positive For COVID-19 Prior To Second Round At RBC Heritage
Jun 19, 2020, 3:11 PM | Updated: Jun 20, 2020, 2:27 pm
(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The PGA Tour has announced that Nick Watney, the first PGA Tour golfer upon return to play, has tested positive for COVID-19. Watney withdrew from the tournament prior to his second round of the RBC Heritage in South Carolina.
Prior to arriving at the tournament, Watney indicated that he had symptoms consistent with the illness and contacted a physician. He was administered a test and the result came back positive.
Nick Watney has withdrawn from the RBC Heritage prior to the second round after testing positive for COVID-19.
He will have the PGA TOUR’s full support throughout his self-isolation and recovery period under CDC guidelines. https://t.co/WLU17W0W2k
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 19, 2020
“Nick will have the PGA TOUR’s full support throughout his self-isolation and recovery period under CDC guidelines. For the health and well-being of all associated with the tournament and those within the community, the TOUR has begun implementing its response plan in consultation with medical experts including working with those who may have had close contact with Nick.”
Watney traveled privately to the tournament and was not on the PGA provided charter-flight. Every player, caddie and key personnel were tested upon arrival to the tournament, every test came back negative. The PGA Tour initiated 369 tests before the tournament started.
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Tom Hackett is a Utah and Real Salt Lake Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the It’s Utah’s World Podcast (Utah Football themed) and The Lion’s Den Podcast (Real Salt Lake themed). Follow him on Twitter: @TomCantHackett.