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Golf: positive for COVID-19, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm will miss the Tokyo Olympics

Sunday, Jul 25, 2021. 12:25 AM
(Update : Sunday, Jul 25, 2021. 4:52 AM)

TOKYO – COVID-19 deprives the Tokyo Games of its first famous sportsmen: American Bryson DeChambeau and Spaniard Jon Rahm, winners of the 2020 and 2021 United States Open respectively, have been forced to forfeit after being tested positive for coronavirus.

DeChambeau “will not be able to participate in the Olympics because he tested positive for COVID-19 before his departure” for Japan, the PGA Tour announced in a post on Twitter.

The 6th player in the world will be replaced in the American team by Patrick Reed, who was already present at the Rio golf events in 2016.

“I am deeply disappointed not to be able to participate in the Olympics for Team USA. Representing my country means everything to me and it was a huge honor to be part of this team, ”said DeChambeau.

“I only wish Bryson the best, and I know how disappointed he is that he can’t compete. I will do my best to play my best and represent our country well, ”Reed said.

Because of the power of his drive and his growing notoriety in the golf microcosm, since he won the United States Open last year with a show of force to the chagrin of opponents then unable to compete with him, DeChambeau was eagerly awaited in Tokyo.

A first major consecration for this atypical golfer, with a beret screwed on the head, always looking for different scientific means to improve his game, but also his physique.

So during the first months of the pandemic, when world sport was under wraps, he followed a high protein diet which made him gain twenty kilos of muscles, precisely to hit the ball as hard as possible on his first approaches.

On Kasumigaseki Country Club’s gigantic 7447-yard long course, a par 71, he could have wreaked havoc, though not in great shape in recent major meetings on the PGA Tour.

The 27-year-old American only finished 33rd in the British Open, the last Grand Slam lift of the season. Previously he finished 26th in the United States Open, 38th in the PGA Championship and 46th in the Masters. But his Arnold Palmer Invitational victory in May secured his qualification for the Tokyo Games, as the four highest-ranked Americans for the season got their sesame.

In addition to Patrick Reed, winner of the Masters 2018 and who therefore replaces DeChambeau, will be present from Thursday Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, winner of the British Open a week ago, and Xander Sc Chaudele.

The news of Rahm’s package came out a few hours after DeChambeau’s news.

Rahm, who had finished third in the British Open on July 18, just before the start of the Olympics, had to undergo three PCR tests before heading to Tokyo, like everyone who has recently been to Britain.

The first two tests were negative but the third was positive, the COE said.

This is the second time that the coronavirus has prevented Rahm from taking part in a tournament. The Spanish golfer had already had to withdraw from the Memorial tournament in the United States last June while leading the competition, after testing positive.

“Lack of time to find a replacement and meet all the health protocols required for the Tokyo Games,” Rahm will not be replaced, explained the Spanish Olympic Committee. “Spanish golf will only be represented in the men’s category by Adri Arnau. “

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