The global pandemic known as Covid has claimed its first golfer’s chance for victory in a top line tournament. Jon Rahm had a 6-shot lead after 54 holes at Jack’s Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio but was disqualified due to testing positive for the Covid virus. Rahm was immediately removed from the field prior to the final day’s play. COVID claims Rahm and Cantlay cashes in at Memorial. Those golfers nearest in the chasing pack were the direct beneficiaries, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, and Patrick Cantlay. The championship would go to extra holes and Cantlay would prevail.

Rahm Was the Defending Champion at Memorial

Jon Rahm was the defending champion from 2020 and this was a cruel twist of fate indeed. To have played so well in the defence of the title over three days and have it snatched from your grasp with such a substantial lead is very bad luck. Rahm was informed of the positive test result on the Saturday evening. The fact that he caught the virus asks many questions about a whole host of issues related to his behaviour, the tournament, and life in the States itself. Jon Rahm was gracious in his acceptance of his fate. The players obviously knew the rules and were ready to comply. This will bring home the seriousness of the situation going forward, I imagine.

Morikawa Looked Most Likely for Much of the Day

Morikawa, Scheffler, and Cantlay would fight it out over the final eighteen holes on Sunday. Played on a great golf course in the presence of fans and the great Jack Nicklaus himself this was a worthy duel for an important title. Collin Morikawa looked the steadier player and putter over the final few holes, but nature had a few curve balls to cast their way. Scheffler was a stroke behind playing a hole ahead of Morikawa and Cantlay. A quick but heavy downpour on the penultimate hole caught players, fans, and officials out.

Cantlay who had been missing putts prior to the rain burst started to make clutch putts after the brief downpour. Scottie Scheffler fell one stroke short after 72 holes and failed to make the play off. Patrick Cantlay and Collin Morikawa were tied at the conclusion of the 72 holes. Both players played the 18^th hole from the rough or fairway bunker repeatedly. In the end it all came down to a Morikawa missed putt, which did not look likely for most of the final day, as he had putted confidently.  COVID claims Rahm & Cantlay cashes in at Memorial in a first for top line golf.

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