Scheffler positive for COVID-19, out of U.S. Open

[September 14, 2020]    After turning in one of the best rookie campaigns on the PGA Tour in 2019-20, Scottie Scheffler will start his sophomore season in quarantine instead of in the U.S. Open.

The 24-year-old American has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss next week's Open at Winged Foot in New York, the USGA announced in a tweet Sunday.

"We are sorry to lose a member of the USGA family in this year's field," USGA senior managing director John Bodenhamer said in the tweet. "We look forward to welcoming him back to the U.S. Open for many years to come."

Scheffler is the first player on tour to test positive for COVID-19 in six weeks. Coincidentally, Branden Grace -- the last player before Scheffler to test positive -- will replace Scheffler at Winged Foot based on the World Golf Ranking.

Scheffler, the low amateur at the 2017 U.S. Open while still playing at the University of Texas, had been on a roll of late.

He turned in the second-lowest 72-hole score at the Tour Championship last week after finishing tied for 20th at the BMW Championship the week before. Prior to that, Scheffler posted back-to-back top-five finishes. At the second of those two events, The Northern Trust near Boston, Scheffler fired a 59 in the second round.

He is currently 29th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

--Field Level Media

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