Former world No 1 Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the upcoming Travelers Championship after his caddie, Rickie Elliot, tested positive for Covid-19 early on Wednesday morning.
Koepka, who has been aiming to get back to his fluent best after a lengthy injury layoff, told Golfweek that he will not feature at TPC River Highland this week as a precaution after Elliot initially tested negative upon his arrival in Connecticut on Monday.
‘I’m going to pull out to protect everybody else. I think it’s the right thing to do,’ Koepka said.
‘I don’t want to risk anyone’s life if they have respiratory issues or underlying conditions. The only way this Tour can continue is if guys to do this sort of thing and be proactive about it.’
Koepka joins Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, who has also decided not to participate at this week’s Travelers Championship after his caddie tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.
‘We all got tested Monday – myself, Claude [Harmon III, his coach] and Ricky. We all came back negative,’ Koepka added.
‘We had no symptoms. Nothing. Ricky has my full support in this. I feel bad for him. We have got to do everything we can to not spread it. We have to protect the field. That’s the reason we have these rules.’
