USA Today via Reuters
May 13, 2021; McKinney, Texas, USA; Jon Rahm lines up his putt on the fourth green during the first round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
May 13, 2021; McKinney, Texas, USA; Jon Rahm lines up his putt on the fourth green during the first round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Jon Rahm was leading the 2021 Memorial Tournament by six strokes when he was given distressing news by PGA Tour officials. Rahm tested positive for COVID-19 and was asked to withdraw from the tournament following Round 3. Watching the 54-hole leader exit the competition in agonizing fashion did not sit well with the others, especially 24-year-old Scottie Scheffler.
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Jon Rahm made a putt on the 18th green and concluded an excellent Round 3 display to go 18-under for the tournament. Everything looked to be in sync for Rahm, who was poised to successfully defend his title at the Memorial Tournament.
But much to everyone’s disbelief, Jon Rahm was informed about his positive test just as he was enjoying his 8-under 64 in Round 3. The cameras caught Rahm’s reaction upon learning about his fate, and guys like Scottie Scheffler voiced out against it.
Surreal TV moment as six-stroke leader Jon Rahm learns he tested positive for COVID and Jim Nantz tries to make sense of it without knowing what Rahm's been told pic.twitter.com/WvD6LmAlxs
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) June 5, 2021
Scottie Scheffler is confused about Jon Rahm’s withdrawal
Jon Rahm had been subjected to daily testing at the 2021 Memorial Tournament since he had been in contact with a person who had the virus. However, it is indeed confusing to know that Rahm tested negative from Monday through Friday and then tested positive on Saturday.
“My heart just sank. It’s terrible that that happened. I think it’s terrible they told him in front of the cameras. I just, my heart is still, it just sinks for him. I just feel awful. I don’t know what the protocols are or how everything works, but I don’t know how he tested positive after the third round,” Scheffler told reporters on Saturday.
USA Today via Reuters
Jun 5, 2021; Dublin, Ohio, USA; Jon Rahm reacts after he putts on the 7th green during the third round of the Memorial Tournament golf tourney. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Scottie Scheffler is also intrigued as to why the tour officials did not notify Rahm before he began Round 3. But as per the reports, Jon Rahm submitted a test after finishing Round 2 on Saturday morning.
Once the result came back as positive, they retested the sample once again just to be 100% sure. The tour officials took immediate action once the second test came back negative. It was an agonizing end to a wonderful tournament for Rahm.
But Jon Rahm showed none of those emotions after his withdrawal from the 2021 Memorial Tournament. He accepted the situation graciously and is isolating himself now, as he’s asymptomatic and carrying the virus.
Read More: WATCH: Jon Rahm Makes Sensational Hole-in-One at the 2021 Memorial Tournament
