Branden Grace has withdrawn from the Barracuda Championship after testing positive for COVID-19 before the third round.
Grace was tied for second through two rounds with Matthias Schwab and Robert Streb, each having +20 points in the event’s Modified Stableford scoring system.
“I felt great all week,” Grace said in a statement released by the PGA Tour. “Last night, I was tired and thought it had to do with the altitude. This morning, I notified the PGA Tour about my symptoms before going to the golf course. I wanted to get tested out of respect for my peers and everyone involved with the tournament. While it is unfortunate given my position on the leaderboard, the most important thing is our health.”
Barracuda Championship: Leaderboard | Best photos
The Tour also says it has implemented its response plan in consultation with medical experts, which includes identifying individuals with whom Grace might have come into contact. After conducting the necessary contact tracing, the Tour’s medical advisors are not recommending any additional testing at this time.
The Tour reports that Grace’s caddie tested negative for COVID-19, but in accordance with CDC guidelines and Tour health and safety protocols, he will still quarantine for a period of 14 days.
Grace, a South African, has made six starts since the Tour restarted in June. He was T-19 at the Charles Schwab Challenge and 61st at the RBC Heritage, but has missed the last four cuts.
He becomes the 10th player, or caddie, to record a positive test for COVID-19 since the Tour’s restart.
