As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to more people, it will change the way the PGA Tour goes about testing its players before events. According to a Golf Digest report, the Tour sent an email to players this week indicating that those who are fully vaccinated will not have to take a COVID-19 test before entering an event.
According to that email, which Golf Digest reportedly obtained: “PGA Tour Health and Safety protocol requires individuals to continue testing onsite until 14 full days have passed since their second dose (Moderna & Pfizer) or 14 full days since their single dose (Johnson & Johnson). Once 14 days have passed, individuals are no longer required to take a COVID-19 test when considered ‘inside the bubble’ at PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions or Korn Ferry Tour events.”
Back in December at the PNC Father Son Championship, when asked to address the introduction of a vaccine and how that could impact the Tour’s plan, Monahan expressed enthusiasm that it could help the Tour, but took a cautious stance that it was premature to jump to any conclusions. He said the Tour would “be very thoughtful about it.”
When asked if in his role as Commissioner he would use his power to mandate a player to take a vaccine, Monahan said he would not.
“I think vaccination is a choice,” he said. “I think we would apply the same logic and the same amount of care to that subject as we have to every other subject, and that is to try and do our best to educate our members on vaccination and the pros and cons associated with it. But ultimately it’s an individual decision.”
Since the Tour’s June 2020 restart, players have been required to return a negative COVID-19 test before being allowed in that week’s bubble. The more than 20 players who tested positive for Tour events had to withdraw from the tournament and complete a quarantine period. They also received a stipend from the Tour.