Brooks Koepka will withdraw from Travelers Championship after caddie tests positive for coronavirus
Brooks Koepka won’t play in the Travelers Championship as planned. Koepka told Golfweek he would withdraw from the event after his caddie, Ricky Elliott, tested positive for coronavirus.
Koepka, 30, said he didn’t want to put anyone else at risk.
“I’m going to pull out to protect everybody else. I think it’s the right thing to do,” Koepka said. “I don’t want to risk anyone’s life if they have respiratory issues or underlying conditions. The only way this Tour can continue is if guys to do this sort of thing and be proactive about it.”
He also said Elliott has his full support.
Koepka, Elliott and Koepka’s coach, Claude Harmon III, were all tested when they arrived at the tournament Monday. All three tested negative. They were tested again Wednesday. Harmon and Koepka tested negative, but Elliott’s test came back positive. Upon hearing the news, Koepka immediately said he would pull out of the event.
Two other members of the PGA Tour — Cameron Champ and Nick Watney — have also tested positive for coronavirus in the past week. Graeme McDowell told Golfweek on Tuesday night his caddie, Ken Comboy, also tested positive for coronavirus. McDowell said he would also pull out of the Travelers Championship. Koepka and McDowell played a practice round against each other Tuesday.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan held a news conference Wednesday to reiterate the tour was taking the virus seriously.
Koepka’s brother, Chase, and Webb Simpson — who won last week at the RBC Heritage — also withdrew from the Travelers after they were in contact with others who tested positive.
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