COLUMBUS, Ohio _ Harris English admitted to feeling a bit lonely playing his third round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
He also understands why it was necessary.
English tested positive for COVID-19 three weeks ago. PGA Tour policy is to allow positive-but-asymptomatic golfers to compete, but they can't play with golfers without COVID and must stay separated off the course as well.
So it was just English and his caddie during his round, just as it was for Denny McCarthy earlier and Dylan Frittelli later. English took a test early Saturday hoping he would test negative, but he didn't.
"You kind of feel like an outcast a little bit on tour," English said after shooting a 74 to stand 1 over par. "I feel like that's what makes the tour so great. I have a lot of good friends out here, and to hang out in the clubhouse and to go out to eat and all that. You're kind of looked at as an outcast. Nobody really wants to get close to you.
"I mean, I understand it. This virus is still so new and I'm about three weeks out of a positive test in Detroit."
English said he feels fully recovered, but he hasn't played since the RBC Heritage the next-to-last week of June. He acknowledged having some fatigue in the heat. The temperatures were in the 90s with the heat index approaching 100.
"The game was a little rusty, but I feel like I'm fighting through it and in a pretty good spot to play this week," he said.
Frittelli, who shot a 74, said he tested positive again Saturday.
"I'm easily surprised by that," he said. "I think that's six in a row now, so I'm really fighting hard to pass that test. I've never failed so many tests. Actually, I've never failed a test before in my educational degrees, I guess."
The news was better for McCarthy, who tested negative Saturday before shooting a 76.
"It was good, especially since the doctor thought it could go on for a little while," he said. "Obviously it was pretty odd today going out as a onesome. It's been a weird couple weeks, but obviously glad to hear the news. Glad to get back to a somewhat normal atmosphere in this crazy time."
