Travelers Championship goes ahead despite positive tests for coronavirus

Home > News > Travelers Championship goes ahead despite positive tests for coronavirus
PGA Tour commissioner warns of consequences for players who ignore safety protocols
Posted on
June 25, 2020
by
The Editorial Team in
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Travelers Championship goes ahead despite three positive tests for coronavirus
(Adam Davy/PA Wire)


PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has revealed the Travelers Championship will go ahead this week, despite three positive tests for coronavirus.


Cameron Champ, Graeme McDowellโ€™s caddie Ken Comboy and Brooks Koepkaโ€™s caddie Ricky Elliott all have the virus and the the three players have withdrawn from the tournament in Connecticut which is due to start on Thursday.

Furthermore, Koepkaโ€™s brother Chase and Webb Simpson have also withdrawn having been in close contact with those testing positive.

Those cases threw doubt on whether the tournament would go ahead, but Monahan said the PGA Tour would carry on while trying to refine its safety protocols.

Travelers Championship goes ahead despite three positive tests for coronavirus
Graeme McDowellโ€™s caddie Ken Comboy has tested positive for coronavirus (David Davies/PA)


โ€œIt is pretty clear that this virus isnโ€™t going anywhere,โ€ he said, having flown into the site on Wednesday to face the media.

โ€œWe are excited to get into the Travelers Championship this week and we are going to continue to refine and get better and better and identify ways we can further mitigate any risks.

โ€œWe have had three positive tests this week, I think everyone should expect we are going to have more (positive) tests.


โ€œWe are going to spend a tonne of time to make sure we are reinforcing the strong protocols we have.โ€

Some of the changes made will include additional testing, coaches being brought into the testing bubble along with fitness facilities.

Monahan admits he has thought about how bad the situation would need to get before the Tour would be cancelled.

โ€œThat is something you are mindful of,โ€ he added. โ€œThe safety of the players is our number one concern, our brand is our greatest asset.

โ€œThe amount of time that we put into the plan we developed and the plan we executed, the dialogue we have had, the feedback we are getting everything we are doing we are doing in concert with our membership.

โ€œWe feel a great responsibility to inspire people, to be in their living rooms on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we feel like we are on a path that is going to allow us continue our return to golf.

โ€œThe PGA Tour will always do the right thing to make sure we create the safest environment possible.โ€

Players have been seen fist-bumping and high-fiving in the first few weeks back on the tour but Monahan has warned of the consequences for anyone found not following safety protocols.



โ€œAll of us have an extraordinary responsibility to follow those protocols, for any individual that does not there will be serious repercussions, I a not going to get into the specifics,โ€ he added.

โ€œEverybody needs to know that our future, our ability to stay in this business is contingent on our ability to follow those protocols.

โ€œWhen there are instances when somebody hasnโ€™t they will be dealt with and the consequences will be significant.โ€

McDowell told Golfweek: โ€œFor the protection of the field, and for my own physical and mental well-being, Iโ€™m going to take a test tomorrow morning then jump on a private plane.

โ€œIโ€™m going to get myself out of here, home to Florida and decide whether I need to quarantine myself from my family.โ€

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