Saturday’s third world number Jon Rahma started with a hole in one that helped him take the lead with six shots at the USPGA Memorial Tournament in Ohio.
However, it ended with the Spaniard (26) withdrawing from the tournament after being told he was positive on Covid-19 as he left with the 18th green.
Defending champion Rahm appears to have claimed the first prize of $ 1.67 million (£ 1.18 million).
He said he was “very disappointed” that he had to retire.
Rahm thought, “This is one of the things that happens in life, one of those moments where the way we react to failure defines us as human beings.
“I am very grateful that everything is fine with my family and me. I will take all necessary precautions to be safe and healthy, and I look forward to returning to the golf course as soon as possible.”
The PGA Tour said Rahm got the news when he finished his round as part of the “tour protocol”.
The tour’s statement read: “In the evening on Monday, May 31, the PGA Tour informed Jon Rahma that he was subject to contact request protocols because he had come into close contact with a person who is Covid positive.
“According to the tour’s health and safety plan, Rahm was given the opportunity to stay in the competition and enter our monitoring protocol, which includes daily testing and limited access to closed facilities. Rahm remained asymptomatic.
“Rahm tested negative every day, but his latest test – which was performed after the end of his second round (rain is late) and before the start of his third round – returned positive at around 16:20 Eastern Time while Rahm was on the golf course The PGA Tour medical adviser requested a confirmatory test on the original sample, which returned at 18.05 ET, and which was also positive. “
Tour said Rahm now has to isolate for 10 days.
“While this is an incredibly unfortunate situation, during the 50 events since the PGA Tour’s return to golf, there were only four positive tests in the competition (including Rahm); Rahm is the first positive, asymptomatic case as part of a tour routine, contact-tracing protocol,” he added. in the statement.
Rahm’s hole-in-one came to the third 16th hole of 183 yards, while he completed the second round postponed by the storm on Saturday morning.
That gave the 26-year-old title defender a two-goal lead after two rounds over American Patrick Cantlay.
Rahm expanded that to six shots after putting him under 18 in the round of 16 and Collin Morikawa and Cantlay were second.
After Rahm’s accident, the pair now hold a three-shot lead over the packs.
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