CROMWELL, Conn. — Update as of 2:30PM Friday
Denny McCarthy has withdrawn from the Travelers Championship prior to the second round. He is the third PGA Tour player to test positive for COVID-19.
The PGA Tour confirmed that McCarthy said he was feeling pretty tired and sore after the round Thursday but didn’t think much of it because he had practiced a lot Monday to Wednesday.
“Last night, I woke up in the middle of the night with additional aches and soreness and sensed something was off," McCarthy continued. "I felt like the only thing to do was get tested at that point before I went to the course.”
PGA Tour officials said Matt Wallace and Bud Cauley played alongside McCarthy in the first round.
Both tested negative on Friday morning, with Cauley testing negative twice.
Their caddies, David McNeill (Wallace) and Matt Hauser (Cauley), also tested negative.
However, Cauley decided to withdraw as a precautionary measure.
“I’m very thankful I have tested negative but have decided to withdraw out of an abundance of caution for my peers and everyone involved with the tournament,” Cauley said.
PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan released the following statement:
“Denny has our full support as he self-isolates here in Hartford and recovers, and I know I speak for the entire TOUR membership in thanking him for doing the right thing in requesting an additional test before heading to the golf course today. What Denny, Bud and others are demonstrating is exactly what we asked of everyone – continue to do your part in taking this virus seriously and keeping not only your own health as a priority, but also that of your fellow competitors and those you may come in contact with. Today’s update again demonstrates our rigorous and quick testing, contact tracing capabilities and overall healthy and safety protocols. We will continue to liaise directly with local and state government and health officials this week and throughout our Return to Golf.”
McCarthy and Cauley make it a total of seven players to withdraw from this event.
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Update as of 3:10PM Thursday: PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan said there have been five players who have withdrawn from the Travelers Championship this week, Brooks Koepka, Chase Koepka, Webb Simpson, Graeme McDowell, and Cameron Champ. Champ tested positive for COVID-19. McDowell, Brooks Koepka, and Simpson withdrew because their caddies tested positive. Chase Koepka withdrew due to an abundance of caution.
The caddies for Graeme McDowell and Brooks Koepka have tested positive for the coronavirus. And now both major champions have decided to withdraw from the Travelers Championship.
Both say they are withdrawing to protect the rest of the field. McDowell says it feels like the snowball is getting bigger.
This is the PGA Tour's third week back after being shut down for three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first week came off without a hitch. Nick Watney last week became the first player to test positive. And now at least one player and two caddies have tested positive.
McDowell says he pulled out of the Travelers Championship to protect other players and caddies, and for his own peace of mind.
Cameron Champ tested positive for the virus and withdrew on Tuesday.
RELATED: PGA golfer Cameron Champ tests positive for COVID-19, withdraws from Travelers Championship
Nick Watney was the first PGA Tour player to test positive last week at the RBC Heritage.
The tour is expected to release all results Wednesday.