Image Courtesy - cnn.com
Jon Rahm steps into a six-shot lead at The Memorial before being tested positive for COVID-19. He started The Memorial on Saturday with a hole-in-one and also fired a magnificent third round 64 to open up a six-shot lead before the defending champion was withdrawn from the tournament after getting infected to COVID-19.
He looked primed for a successful defence of his title at The Memorial but now he is dramatically forced out of the tournament due to testing positive for COVID-19. Rahm stepped off the 18th green at Murfield Village following a six-birdie, back-nine 30 which encouraged him into a commanding six-shot lead but his joy turned to despair as he was withdrawn from the event. It is so sad to come to the fact that Rahm had the chance to become the first player to win back-to-back at Jack’s place and leaves Patrick Cantlay and Collin Morikawa as joint-leaders heading into the final round.
The PGA tour’s statement says that Rahm is now under isolation and by CDC guidelines, he has to remain isolated till June 15. That’s an incredibly unfortunate situation, throughout 50 events since the PGA tour’s return to golf, there had been only four positive cases including Rahm. Rahm was the first positive, asymptomatic case as part of the Tour’s routine, contract-tracing protocols.