Once again, the PGA Tour sticks their head up their rear end. This time by making Jon Rahm withdraw from The Memorial Tournament due to a positive Covid-19 test.
In a week when emails from Anthony Fauci surfaced putting into question the handling of the pandemic and the truth behind its origins, you would think the PGA Tour would have used a commonsense approach when addressing this issue.
After all, the fans are back, and who knows how many of those walking around, without masks and any type of social distancing, were positive themselves. There’s common knowledge Covid-19 testing is spotty at best and unreliable at worst.
Rahm was leading the tournament by 6 shots, a tournament record for a 54-shot leader. At the start of the week, Rahm was advised by the Tour that he became in contact with a person who was Covid positive and therefore he was subject to contact-tracing protocols.
According to the Tour, Rahm tested negative all week, but a recent test, conducted after the end of the second round, had come back positive. Mind you, Rahm was still playing and was asymptomatic.
If this was such a big deal, to the point of withdrawal; why was Rahm not notified immediately and removed from the golf course, along with his two playing partners?
The Tour medical adviser requested a second test from the original test which came back positive. Knowing the importance of the situation the Tour medical adviser should have requested a second sample from Rahm. It has been proven, time and time again, Covid testing is not 100% reliable.
Instead, the Tour waited until Rahm completed his round to notify him of his misfortune. Unfortunately, the tour continues to implement some ridiculous protocols and Rahm had no choice but to withdraw from the tournament.
This is sickening to the core. Not only has the CDC and Anthony Fauci been wrong all along about Covid-19, but if the tour was really that serious about it, they should have not allowed fans back into its venues. It is all about the money for Jay Monahan folks.
What about his four playing partners, Scheffler, Cantlay, Morikawa, and Schauffele? The PGA Tour cleared them to play, but they do not tell you why or under which protocols they were cleared. Again, if the Tour was that serious about it, the other four players should have been removed and quarantined.
My biggest disappointment comes for the tournament host, Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus should have been more vocal about it and intervened on behalf of Jon Rahm. Instead, he just gave some empty words of encouragement and moved on with business as usual.
Regardless of who wins this tournament, to me, and many fans, the champion will not be a legitimate champion. This was poorly handled, and my heart goes out to Jon Rahm.
The PGA Tour has become a sport product not worth buying.
This Memorial Tournament will not be a memorable one and for a good reason.