Jon Rahm tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament while holding a six-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round.
Rahm, who is the third-ranked golfer in the world, shot an 8-under-par 64 on Saturday and was at a tourney-record 18 under after three rounds.
Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay are now the co-leaders at 12 under.
The PGA released the following statement Saturday afternoon:
“On the evening Monday, May 31, the PGA TOUR notified Jon Rahm that he was subject to contact-tracing protocols, as he had come in close contact with a person who was COVID positive. Per the TOUR’s COVID Health & Safety Plan, Rahm was given the option to remain in the competition and enter our tracing protocol, which includes daily testing and restricted access to indoor facilities. Rahm has remained asymptomatic.
“Rahm has tested negative every day, but his most recent test – which was performed after the conclusion of his second round (rain delayed) and before the start of his third round – returned positive at approximately 4:20 p.m. ET while Rahm was on the golf course. The PGA TOUR’s medical advisor requested a confirmatory test on the original sample, which came back at 6:05 p.m. ET, and was also positive.”
Rahm was notified immediately after the round. He will be in isolation through June 15.
The Tour also said there have been only four positive tests (including Rahm) within competition over the past 50 tournaments, though Rahm is the first positive, asymptomatic case.
–Field Level Media