The PGA Tour will be giving all players, caddies and “other essential personnel on the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Champions WHOOP fitness straps in an effort to better detect early signs of COVID-19,” according to Daniel Rapaport of GOLF DIGEST. A total of 1,000 devices, which monitor the wearer’s “heart rate, strain, sleep and recovery patterns” will be distributed at this week’s PGA Tour Travelers Championship and the Korn Fery Tour’s Utah Championship. Nick Watney’s WHOOP “provided a key indicator that something might be wrong with his body” the night after the first round of last week’s RBC Heritage. He tested positive for coronavirus the next day. The distribution of WHOOP bands is “one of a number of changes being discussed by PGA Tour personnel after this first wave of positive tests,” which has included Watney, Cameron Champ and Ken Comboy, Graeme McDowell’s caddie. Also being considered is “additional testing, beyond the current system" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 6/24).
KOEPKA LATEST WITHDRAWAL: GOLFWEEK's Eamon Lynch notes Brooks Koepka is latest golfer to withdraw from the Travelers Championship, as his caddie, Ricky Elliott, tested positive this morning. Elliott "previously tested negative 48 hours earlier when he arrived at the tournament." Elliott, Koepka and his coach Claude Harmon III "went for additional COVID tests as a precaution after playing a practice round" with McDowell yesterday (GOLFWEEK.com, 6/24).
