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Published

3 years ago

on

2:49 PM ET

DUBLIN, Ohio — Lee Westwood was not at Muirfield Village Golf Club this week, but he is well aware of the situation that Jon Rahm endured before having to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament.

The difference: Westwood never tested positive for COVID-19 as Rahm did, forcing his exit despite a six-shot lead through 54 holes.

Westwood, 48, tweeted Sunday that he experienced the same thing as Rahm at the Players Championship in March, minus the positive test.

Rahm was in close contact early last week with a COVID-positive person and went through the PGA Tour’s contact tracing protocols, which required a negative test every day of the week. Rahm, 26, passed all until Saturday. His test between the second and third rounds came back positive as he was playing the back nine, with the sample tested again and returned just as he was finishing.

Upon walking off the green, Rahm was immediately notified by PGA Tour personnel that he had tested positive and would need to withdraw.

Westwood did not provide details, but he finished second at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March to Bryson DeChambeau and then was in the same group with him the following week at the Players. Westwood eventually finished second behind winner Justin Thomas.

Throughout the week of the Players, he would have been required to test every day while also not being able to use the indoor facilities.

Westwood also responded to multiple questions from Twitter users after saying, “Ask away if you have any questions you want answered.”

Asked if Rahm should have been pulled off the course immediately, Westwood responded: “I believe he was notified as soon as they retested the sample (6:05 p.m.) They do it twice in case of a false positive on the first. Informed him straight away. All close contacts either isolate or get tested every day, as Jon had to all week being a close contact of somebody else.”

Asked about the protocols for a player deemed to be a close contact, Westwood said: “You’re given a separate room. You’re not allowed in the clubhouse, player dining locker room or any public areas.”

Asked how often players have to best test, Westwood said: “It’s now vaccine dependent (not required if fully vaccinated), but it’s generally once at the start of the week as soon as you get there and before going on site. Unless you’ve had a close contact then it’s every day between 7-9 in the morning or 3-5 in the afternoon.”

Asked if Rahm should have withdrawn earlier in the tournament for the sake of bettors who put a lot of money on Rahm, Westwood answered facetiously: “Yes the PGA Tour should base all their decisions around the punters (gamblers).”

Asked about the possibility that tests could be manipulated or if there should be more backup scenarios, Westwood said: “The PGA Tour are not trying to find people positive. They give the players the maximum time and every possible scenario to play and opportunity to play. Withdrawing people is the last resort.”

Westwood also said the tour’s timing in telling Rahm was not “ideal” and said he was “not guaranteed to win” despite his six-stroke lead.

Westwood, who is ranked 27th in the world, has 44 worldwide victories in his career, including 25 on the European Tour. He is next scheduled to play at the U.S. Open.

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Rays reinstate OF Lowe from the 10-day IL

Published

10 mins ago

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May 6, 2024

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Rays reinstate OF Lowe from the 10-day IL

  • Associated Press

May 6, 2024, 02:48 PM ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated outfielder Josh Lowe from the 10-day injured list before Monday night’s game with the Chicago White Sox.

Lowe has been out since opening day due to a right oblique strain that occurred during spring training, and experienced right hamstring tightness in late April just before he was expected to rejoin the team.

Lowe hit .292 with 20 homers, 83 RBI and stole 32 bases last season.

Right-hander Edwin Uceta had his contract selected from Triple-A Durham, where he was 0-1 with a 7.00 ERA in 10 games. Uceta appeared in 25 games, going 0-3, in 2021-23 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets.

Tampa Bay used six relievers in Sunday’s 7-6, 10-inning win over the Mets after starter Ryan Pepiot was hit by a 107.5 mph liner on his left calf and exited the game.

X-rays taken Sunday on Pepiot were negative.

To make room on the 26-man roster, infielder Curtis Mead and reliever Jacob Lopez were optioned to Durham.

Infielder-outfielder Niko Goodrum was designated for release or assignment.

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Guardians’ hits leader Kwan on IL, Manzardo up

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10 mins ago

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May 6, 2024

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Guardians' hits leader Kwan on IL, Manzardo up

  • Associated Press

May 6, 2024, 02:52 PM ET

CLEVELAND — The Guardians are losing their extraordinary leadoff hitter and adding one with power and potential.

Cleveland placed outfielder Steven Kwan, who leads the AL with a .353 average, on the 10-day injured list Monday with a strained hamstring he sustained while running down a fly ball over the weekend.

Kwan felt tightness in his hamstring and was pulled from Saturday’s win over the Angels as a precaution. An MRI revealed an acute strain and the Guardians said Kwan likely will be out for up to one month.

Kwan said he had hamstring issues while playing at Oregon State and in the minors.

His injury is a blow to the AL Central-leading Guardians, but it’s giving the team a chance to promote hard-hitting prospect Kyle Manzardo, who has been bashing minor league pitchers this season and will now join a Cleveland lineup that can use some middle muscle.

The Guardians have been one of the season’s early surprise teams — they’re 22-12 heading into their series opener against Detroit — with Kwan a big reason for the club’s fast start.

He seems to start or be in the middle of virtually every rally, and the 26-year-old continues to be one of the league’s best defensive outfielders. Last year, he won his second straight Gold Glove.

Manzardo’s reputation as a slugger preceded his arrival in Cleveland.

The 23-year-old was acquired at last year’s trade deadline from Tampa Bay for pitcher Aaron Civale. The Rays were reluctant to part with Manzardo but they needed pitching while the Guardians have been craving a big bat in the middle of their order.

Manzardo had a strong spring for the Guardians, who had him start the season at Triple-A Columbus to build confidence. He’s done just that, hitting .303 with nine homers, 10 doubles and 20 RBI in 29 games.

Cleveland fans have been clamoring for Manzardo, who will likely play some first base and be used as a DH by first-year manager Stephen Vogt.

Also, the Guardians activated left-hander Sam Hentges from the injured list. The reliever has been out since training camp with a middle finger issue.

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White Sox bring up RHP Clevinger from Triple-A

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10 mins ago

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May 6, 2024

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White Sox bring up RHP Clevinger from Triple-A

  • Associated Press

May 6, 2024, 04:29 PM ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Right-hander Mike Clevinger was recalled by the Chicago White Sox from Triple-A Charlotte to start Monday night’s game at the Tampa Bay Rays.

Clevinger got a late start to the season after finalizing a $3 million, one-year contract on April 4.

The 33-year-old made two starts for Charlotte, allowing three runs and 10 hits, along with seven strikeouts over 7⅓ innings.

Clevinger can earn an additional $3 million in bonuses for starts and innings: $100,000 per start from 11-25 and $100,000 for 55 innings and each additional five through 125.

Clevinger went 9-9 with a 3.77 ERA and two complete games in 24 starts with the White Sox last season, then became a free agent.

He is 60-39 with a 3.45 ERA in 128 starts and 24 relief appearances in eight seasons with Cleveland (2016-20), San Diego (2020-22) and Chicago (2023). He missed the 2021 season after Tommy John surgery.

Chicago also placed right-hander Dominic Leone on the 15-day injured list with lower back tightness.

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