The PGA Tour has sent every one of its members a 37-page “Health & Safety Plan” document ahead of an expected return to competition at the June 11th commencing the Charles Schwab Challenge at Fort Worth in Texas.
The ‘document’ outlines a significant coronavirus testing plan that will be pivotal in the Tour confidently emerging from what will be a three-month lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Tour’s ‘layered testing approach” calls for both golfers and caddies to fill out questionnaires, have their temperatures taken and to also undergo a RT PCR Nasal swab/saliva test.
The Tour indicated players and caddies will be sent a pre-travel screening test and will also be tested when they arrive in a host tournament city, and this will more than likely take place at a host hotel.
Daily questionnaires and temperature screenings will then be applied with testing a required condition of competition, similar to the Tour’s current drug testing requirements.
Results for the PCR nasal swabs will take 24-48 hours and those waiting for results can still practice and play but will not have access to other on-site facilities.
“I don’t know what even to expect,” said World No. 3 Brooks Koepka in speaking to the Golf Channel.
“I am assuming no fans, that’s been said, but I am kind of in the dark. I don’t know too much about it.
“Whatever restrictions they put on, I am going to be in the first three events, so whatever I need to do to play those three events I am going to make sure I do.”
In addition to the Charles Schwab Challenge, the tournaments set to be held without fans are the RBC Heritage (June 18-21) in Hilton Head, S.C., the Travelers Championship (June 25-28) in Cromwell, Conn., and the Rocket Mortgage Classic (July 2-5) in Detroit.
The first tournament tentatively preparing for spectators is the July 6-12 John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., followed by the Memorial.
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