Golfer Dustin Johnson out of CJ Cup after positive coronavirus test
NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) — Dustin Johnson became the most prominent player to test positive for the coronavirus since golf resumed in June, forcing him to withdraw Tuesday from the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek.
The PGA Tour said in a statement that Johnson notified officials he was experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and was given another test that came back positive.
Johnson is the No. 1 player in the world and the
reigning PGA Tour player of the year after winning the FedEx Cup for the
first time. He has not played since he tied for sixth at the U.S. Open
last month.
“Obviously, I am very disappointed,” Johnson said in a
statement. “I was really looking forward to competing this week, but
will do everything I can to return as quickly as possible. I have
already had a few calls with the tour’s medical team and appreciation
all the support and guidance they have given me.”
Johnson did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Johnson
is the 11th player to test positive since the PGA Tour resumed its
schedule on June 8. It comes one week after Tony Finau, at No. 16 in the
world, tested positive with minor symptoms and withdrew from the
Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.
Johnson holds
the course record at Shadow Creek after its latest renovation, posting a
7-under 65 five years ago while playing with hockey great Wayne
Gretzky, the father of Johnson’s partner Paulina Gretzky.
Still to
be determined is whether Johnson is able to play the Zozo Championship
at Sherwood next week in Thousand Oaks, California. Johnson is a member
at Sherwood Country Club, where he spends a lot of time with Gretzky.
“He was really, really looking forward to these two weeks,” said David Winkle, his manager at Hambric Sports.
Winkle said Johnson came out to Las Vegas early to practice, and he received a negative test on Sunday.
“But
then he started experiencing symptoms later that night,” Winkle said.
“He took it easy on Monday and thought maybe he was coming down with a
cold. He had a little chest congestion. He went back and was tested this
morning.”
Under the protocols on the PGA Tour, which are based on
guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Johnson
is to self-isolate for 10 days dating to when he first experienced
symptoms and can return if there are no other symptoms.
That would
leave open the possibility of Johnson playing next week at Sherwood,
provided he would want to play having gone 10 days without being able to
prepare.
Most of the world’s best players are in Las Vegas and
California for two weeks as part of their preparations for the Masters.
Johnson is scheduled to play the Houston Open on Nov. 5-8 a week before
the Masters.
Finau experienced symptoms last weekend, meaning he was eligible to be at Shadow Creek on Wednesday to start practicing. Instead, he chose to withdraw.