Major hopeful to miss Chevron Championship due to vaccine status

There will be no Linn Grant at this week’s Chevron Championship.  

The Swede is unable to participate in the opening women’s major of the year due to the USA’s COVID-19 travel restrictions. 

Grant, 23, has not been vaccinated for the coronavirus, which makes her ineligible to enter the United States per the country’s requirement that international visitors be fully vaccinated, or have received the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.  

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Consequently, the world No.23 will be absent from the field as the former ANA Inspiration moves to its new date and venue.  

It takes place at The Woodlands in Texas this week, with 42 of the world’s top-50 female golfers set to peg it up.  

Grant made history last summer when she won the Volvo Scandinavian Mixed, becoming the first woman to win on the DP World Tour in the process.  

That was one of four titles she won in 2022 as she finished top of the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit. She is odds-on to make her Solheim Cup debut for Team Europe at Finca Cortesin in Spain later this year.  

Because of her vaccination status, Grant has not played in the USA as a professional. Indeed, her most recent start there came in May 2021 when she contested the collegiate NCAA Championship. 

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To date in 2023, she has played tournament in five different countries: Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Singapore and South Korea. None of those nations require international visitors to be vaccinated.  

In addition to missing this week’s major, Grant will also be unable to participate in the International Crown team event at TPC Harding Park from May 4-7.  

However, pending anticipated changes to the USA’s national public health emergency status later in May, it is possible Grant may be able to compete in the LPGA Match Play Championship in Las Vegas from May 24-28. 

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor