Adam Scott admits his Masters preparations have been disrupted by the total surprise in learning that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
The 2013 Augusta National champion had been forced to withdraw from last fortnight’s Zozo Championship but over two weeks later, and as strict as he and his family have been, Scott has contracted the disease.
“I mean, I was surprised. I had no symptoms at the time I tested positive, but I developed some symptoms about 12 hours after I tested positive and I had a slight fever for 24 hours and a headache and then that kind of passed,” said Scott ahead of teeing-up in this week’s Houston Open. “Then I continued to get better.”
“Yeah, I had to isolate. I was in the hotel there in L.A. for six days. Once I was sure I was healthy and not kind of just feeling okay, I investigated finding a house by myself for the next four or five days to isolate just so I could go outside and get some fresh air. So I drove myself to a house. And again, didn’t have any contact with anyone until my 10 days of isolation was up.
“I don’t know where I got it exactly and no one who was contact traced through me developed symptoms or tested positive. Everyone ended up testing negative days after and they’ve all been fine since as well. However, there was a bit of an outbreak in our area where we live in the few days before I tested positive and then the 10 days after, but of course early on in those outbreaks you don’t know it’s happening because no one’s tested positive. So, I could have just got it from anywhere.”
Scott said he had a mild fever for 24 hours and a headache but soon recovered. Per the Tour protocols, however, he still was subject to 10 days of self-isolation. Scott bought a putting mat for his hotel room before relocating to a house in Los Angeles, where he could spend more time outdoors.
“Obviously my golf preparations have taken a bit of a setback the last few weeks,” said Scott, who, like Dustin Johnson, will be playing for the first time since the U.S. Open. “Not getting any practice in for those 10 days either is a little setback, but I’ve actually come out swinging good this week and at least feel fresh.”
Scott was looking forward to a quick visit to Augusta National after the Zozo but had to scrap those plans following his positive test result. Instead, he’ll fly in Sunday night, after the Houston Open, and then begin his preparations the week of the tournament. Without patrons on-site this year, he said he should have little trouble getting in his work: “I’m in for a surprise next week when I get there,” Scott said, “but I have no doubt that it will present incredibly well, as they always do at Augusta National. It’s going to be a great event.”
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