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Denny McCarthy has withdrawn from the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands after testing positive for COVID-19.

The 27-year-old American becomes the third PGA Tour pro to test positive for the coronavirus, following Nick Watney and Cameron Champ.

According to a Golf Channel report, McCarthy withdrew ahead of the second round after waking up with symptoms overnight.

“I was feeling pretty tired and sore after the round yesterday but didn’t think much of it because I had practiced a lot Monday to Wednesday,” he said. “Then I woke up in the middle of the night feeling more sore and achy and sensed something was off. I felt like the only thing to do was get tested at that point before I went to the course.”

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He had carded a 67 in the opening round where he was paired alongside compatriot Bud Cauley and England’s Matt Wallace.

Cauley has also withdrawn from the tournament ahead of the second round, with Wallace electing to play on.

The Travelers Championship is only the third event since play resumed on the PGA Tour after almost three months in its COVID-19 enforced slumber. 

Along with Watney, Champ and McCarthy, Ken Comboy and Ricky Elliott – the caddies for Graeme McDowell and Brooks Koepka respectively – have also tested positive for the disease.

That has prompted many people to debate whether or not the tour should proceed with its comeback.

• Ryder Cup star blasts world rankings restart

• Major champ WDs from Travelers Championship

According to world No.1 Rory McIlroy, such talk is premature.

“You hear one or two positive tests and people are panicking,” said the Northern Irishman after opening with a 63 in this week’s Travelers Championship. “I saw a couple of calls to shut the tournament down, which is silly from my point of view.”


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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

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