Watney's positive test came just 12 days and two tournaments into the PGA Tour's returnGETTY IMAGES
Golfer Nick Watney’s positive coronavirus test at the RBC Heritage last week "has not triggered a massive revamping" of the PGA Tour's health and safety plan, according to Joel Beall of GOLF DIGEST. The PGA Tour was likely going to have a positive coronavirus test at some point, but Watney’s results coming a “mere 12 days and two tournaments into the tour’s return, and how it happened,” with Watney on site at the RBC Heritage “as he was awaiting his results, have brought attention to a plan already under heightened observation.” Sources said that while the Tour "will continue to improve and refine its protocols, it remains confident in the guidelines set forth." Additionally, sources at this week's Travelers Championship indicated that the event "is not deviating from its blueprint due to Watney’s test." Sources said that there likely will be an "update sent to tour constituents on Monday or Tuesday ... but it will mostly be a reminder of the protocols and the need to maintain social-distancing practices." Meanwhile, Beall noted Watney’s positive test "has not appeared to have shaken the players’ faith in the tour’s system" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 6/21).
DID TOUR ACT APPROPRIATELY? GOLFWEEK's Eamon Lynch wrote while the Tour has published "detailed guidelines ... that run to several dozen pages" for what would happen if a player showed signs of having the virus, its approach in the moment "seemed altogether more slapdash." Tour officials knew Watney "was symptomatic before he arrived at the golf course so they had an obligation to isolate him from other competitors and people." He instead was "able to stroll to the practice area while awaiting his test result." At least one top player "called a senior Tour official to ask why Watney was permitted on the range in the circumstances." The player "was told that Watney should have been wearing a mask, which he wasn’t." Lynch: "The foul here is charged against the Tour" (GOLFWEEK.com, 6/21). GOLF.com's Josh Berhow noted Watney "shouldn’t have been milling around waiting for results anywhere near players, or the Tour should not have let him." GOLF.com's Alan Shipnuck: "It seems crazy to allow a player who has any symptoms or suspicions to be on the grounds at all." However, GOLF.com's Josh Sens believed the Tour "acted promptly and in good faith." Sens: "The bigger question now is, what happens if more players start testing positive? How does the Tour respond?" (GOLF.com, 6/21).
PLAYER REACTIONS: Rory McIlroy said, "We're still in the middle of a pandemic. I think we've done really well to start golf again and get back up and play golf tournaments. I don't think anyone was blind to the fact that someone could catch the virus, and it's a shame that Nick did. But it's one case, and as long as it's contained to that and we move forward, we can keep playing" (ESPN.com, 6/20). Chris Stroud indicated that Watney's positive test "came up with playing partner Lucas Glover and their caddies." Stroud said that the "consensus was surprise after the effective and thorough system the tour seemed to have in place" (Hilton Head ISLAND PACKET, 6/20).
