Hatton among four players to WD with COVID-19

The PGA Tour has been able to create a safety bubble for its players since returning to action in June 2020.

However, with many countries around the world still reeling from record daily cases, it was inevitable that the PGA Tour’s increase of crowd sizes would result in the chance of further infections at some point.

Hatton cemented his place inside the world top-10 with his win in Abu Dhabi earlier this year (Credit: European Tour)

And this week, COVID-19 has fought back with four players from last week’s Zurich Classic field forced out of the Valspar Championship following positive test results including World No.8 Tyrrell Hatton, Sepp Straka, Will Gordon and Brice Garnett.

Up to 10,000 fans per day were allowed at the New Orleans-based event.

“Sadly I have had to withdraw this week from the @ValsparChamp after testing positive for COVID-19 today. I will now be self isolating under the CDC guidelines. I wish everyone well this week and look forward to being back out on tour soon,” tweeted Hatton.

It’s the first time four players have tested positive at a single tournament since the Tour returned to competition in mid-2020.

The PGA Tour said in a statement that ‘Hatton will have the PGA Tour’s full support throughout his self-isolation period under CDC guidelines’.

He will be replaced in this week’s field by Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.