CROMWELL, Conn. — COVID-19 now has touched a single of the major golfers in the entire world with Brooks Koepka on Wednesday morning reportedly preparing to withdraw from the Tourists Championship simply because his caddie has examined positive for the virus.
The news about Koepka, the No. 4 ranked participant in the environment and a 4-time major championship winner, came shortly following Graeme McDowell withdrew when his caddie analyzed good for the virus and a day right after Cameron Champ was compelled to withdraw soon after tests beneficial.
Koepka’s caddie, Ricky Elliott, examined constructive for COVID-19 on Wednesday morning at TPC River Highlands just after owning earlier examined adverse on Monday upon his arrival to the tournament.
Both of those Elliott and McDowell’s caddie, Ken Comboy, were being alongside one another at a funeral for a mutual friend of theirs in Orlando, Fla. on June 15. According to McDowell, Comboy believes he could have been exposed to the virus through a industrial flight he took on June 13 from Dallas to Orlando following the Charles Schwab Obstacle.
Koepka, expressing he’d “rather be safe and sound than sorry,’’ told Golfweek, “I’m going to pull out to guard most people else. I imagine it’s the correct thing to do. I don’t want to risk anyone’s lifestyle if they have respiratory challenges or underlying ailments. The only way this Tour can carry on is if fellas to do this type of issue and be proactive about it.”
As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, even so, Koepka experienced not officially withdrawn in accordance to a PGA Tour formal, and there was a report that Elliott was examined once more Wednesday and the end result came back unfavorable.
The Koepka circumstance is a evident indication of how random this is, simply because potentially no player has been as careful about trying to keep the virus out of his modest circle. Koepka has been remaining at personal residences with his girlfriend, Jenna Sims, Elliott and a personal chef.
“I’ve told most people on my workforce they are very substantially on lockdown,’’ Koepka said on Tuesday. “If they really do not want to do that, then they do not have to be with us. It’s very easy. I introduced essentially my possess gym. I introduced cost-free weights, bands, every little thing you see in a health club. There’s no purpose that any individual ought to depart the home.
“The chef clearly leaves the dwelling to go get foods, but that’s about it. But she’s even now utilizing the best encounter mask, washing her arms … and just trying to restrict our publicity. I think that’s been the large issue.
“I’m getting this very seriously,’’ Koepka went on. “I’ve experienced 4 months off with an personal injury … three months off with sitting down at residence simply because of COVID. So, I have been keen to go participate in. I have been dying to get out listed here and do what I do. I adore playing, I really like competing. I necessarily mean, I don’t appear in the clubhouse at all except for this interview. I have been remaining outdoors, just going to my house and that’s it. I’m not hanging around guys. I really do not definitely feel like executing much, just hanging all-around my team.’’
Now his group is thought to have been infected.
Koepka on Tuesday expressed minimal surprise that there ended up some beneficial COVID checks popping on the PGA Tour, with Nick Watney acquiring contracted the virus previous 7 days and Champ on Tuesday. His words and phrases proved prophetic a working day afterwards.
“I assume it would be unrealistic to sit listed here and say that these first five, 6 months we weren’t likely to have any individual test constructive, whether or not it be a player, caddie, whichever it might be,’’ he mentioned. “The odds are not with us that anyone was not heading to take a look at beneficial, so which is the unlucky factor.’’
