Major winner out of Games with second virus bout

Known for their towering drives, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm won't marque it to the tee container astatine the Olympics.

The past 2 US Open champions became the best-known athletes to driblet retired of the Tokyo Games connected Sunday aft investigating affirmative for COVID-19.

DeChambeau's positive came earlier helium near the United States for Tokyo. The musclebound American celebrated for his game-changing plaything velocity volition replaced by Patrick Reed.

"I americium profoundly disappointed not to beryllium capable to vie successful the Olympics for Team USA," DeChambeau said successful a statement. "Representing my state means the satellite to maine and it is was a tremendous honour to marque this team."

Bryson DeChambeau plays an robust changeable during the last circular of the US Open astatine Winged Foot. (AP)

Rahm was flagged for COVID-19 for the 2nd clip successful 2 months — helium had a six-shot pb astatine the Memorial successful aboriginal June erstwhile helium was forced to retreat due to the fact that of a affirmative test. The Spaniard said helium had gotten his last vaccine changeable less than 14 days earlier that positive.

Both players precocious became first-time large champions. DeChambeau won the US Open successful 2020 astatine Winged Foot past fall, and Rahm took this year's rubric astatine Torrey Pines successful June, 2 weeks aft the affirmative trial astatine Muirfield Village.

Jon Rahm. (AP)

Several twelve Olympic athletes person tested affirmative either earlier leaving for Tokyo oregon aft they arrived. Last week, US tennis subordinate Coco Gauff besides tested affirmative earlier she near the United States.

Reed was scheduled to acquisition investigating Sunday and Monday to wide himself to vie successful Tokyo. The the archetypal circular of the men's tourney astatine the Kasumigaseki Country Club is acceptable for Thursday. He volition articulation Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele connected the four-man US team.

Spain said it would not question to regenerate Rahm, leaving Adri Arnaus arsenic its lone subordinate successful the men's tournament, which starts Thursday astatine Kasumigaseki Country Club extracurricular of Tokyo.

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