Count Adam Scott as “Mr. Skeptical” when it comes to the PGA Tour’s health and safety plan protocols.
Count him skeptical enough where we won’t see the former Masters champion back out on tour for quite a while.
Earlier this week, Lee Westwood said he will probably skip the PGA Championship due to the fact that players from outside the U.S. would have to face a 14-day quarantine. Westwood is also the host of the the European Tour’s first outing starting July 20th at the British Masters. He’d also face another two-week quarantine on his return to the U.K. Simply doesn’t work.
As for Scott, he doesn’t sound sold on the PGA Tour ‘s safety plans.
“They are being fairly thorough, but my initial reaction was I was surprised it wasn’t tighter than it is,” Scott said. “What concerns me is dialogue that the Tour is hopeful of returning one- or two-hour test results. You’d want that in place before competing.”
Scott also said he has concerns with the PGA Tour plan to only administer RT PCR Nasal Swab/Saliva tests to players, caddies and certain Tour and tournament officials but would only screen others on site at tournaments with questionnaires and thermal readings.
“An asymptomatic person could operate within a tournament,” he said. “If they’re not showing symptoms, and I somehow picked it up inside the course, and I’m disqualified, I’m now self-isolating for two weeks. I’d be annoyed if that happened.”
So don’t look for Adam to show up when things get going at Colonial. His plan is to make the WGC-St. Jude his first event back. That event doesn’t start until July 30th in Memphis. It will be followed by the PGA Championship at Harding Park on August 6.
On the other side of the safety fence, world’s No. 1 Rory McIlroy said he’s fine with the Tour protocols.
So no Lee Westwood, no Adam Scott when things get rolling.
No worries, there will be plenty of stars at Colonial twenty-one days from now.
2 Comments
baxter cepeda
I said yesterday Adam is being consistent in his values for health and safety and a real leader here.
Based on his light schedule It’s possible Scott did not want to play until the week before the first major anyway, but still; He is making a strong statement.
When Adam skipped the Olympics in Rio because of Zika he seemed out of touch. But so did many other pga tour players whom followed.
The message the world received from golfers: No money. No play.
This is different. No one will follow Scott in not playing this time because they all want their money.
Adam Scott has his priorities in order. Sure having Money helps his decision making but many of the richest people in the world are rushing back to business despite continued risks to life.
I’m not sure of Scotts plans for Olympic golf moving forward or if he will even qualify, but if he does, and it’s safe, I hope Adam changes his mind and competes despite IOC Frustrations.
Adam truly is a great rep for Australia and golf. And if he plays, it would be a clear sign things are safe, because no one plays it safe quite like Adam Scott.
Tom Edrington
I won’t miss him.