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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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Canucks, Boeser agree on new seven-year deal

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Canucks, Boeser agree on new seven-year deal

The Vancouver Canucks have come to terms with forward Brock Boeser on a new seven-year contract, carrying a $7.25 million AAV.

Canucks GM Patrik Allvin announced the deal on Tuesday during the first hour of NHL free agency. Boeser, 28, was an unrestricted free agent on a previously expiring contract.

Drafted by Vancouver 23rd overall in the 2015 NHL draft, Boeser has collected 204 goals and 434 points in 554 games with the Canucks to date. A top-six scoring threat, Boeser has elite playmaking skills and the potential to produce big numbers offensively. He had his best year offensively in 2023-24, producing 40 goals and 73 points in 81 games.

Boeser didn’t hit those marks again last season — settling for 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games — but was still second amongst teammates in output. He also plays a prominent role on Vancouver’s power play and when he can generate opportunities at 5-on-5, he is a true difference-maker up front for the Canucks.

The extension is a happy ending for Vancouver and Boeser. When the regular season ended, Boeser admitted “it’s tough to say” whether he’d be back with the Canucks. Boeser reportedly turned down a previous five-year extension offer with the club and Allvin subsequently looked into deals for him at the March trade deadline, with no takers. Boeser looked — and sounded — poised to explore his options on the open market.

Ultimately, Boeser decided to stay put by committing the best years of his career to the Canucks.

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Jake Allen agrees to 5-year deal with the Devils

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Jake Allen agrees to 5-year deal with the Devils

Jake Allen, one of the top goaltenders available entering free agency, is not heading to the market after agreeing to a five-year deal with the New Jersey Devils, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

Allen’s average annual value on the deal is $1.8 million, sources told ESPN. That AAV allows the Devils to run back the same goaltending tandem for next season.

Jacob Markstrom has one year remaining on his contract for $4.125 million. Nico Daws is also under contract for next season, before becoming a restricted free agent next summer.

Several teams were interested in the 34-year-old veteran, whom sources said could have made more money on the open market. However, the deal with the Devils gives Allen long-term security. Allen has played for the Blues, Canadiens and Devils over his 12-year-career. He has started in 436 career games.

Last season, Allen started 29 games for the Devils, going 13-16-1 with a .906 save percentage, 2.66 GAA and four shutouts.

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Capitals sign Fehervary to 7-year, $42M extension

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Capitals sign Fehervary to 7-year, M extension

Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary signed a seven-year extension through the 2032-33 season that is worth $6 million annually, the team announced Tuesday.

Fehervary, who had one year of team control remaining, will enter the final season of a three-year bridge deal that will see him make $2.675 million before his new contract begins at the start of the 2026-27 season.

He finished the season with five goals and a career-high 25 points while logging 19 minutes. Fehervary also played a crucial role in the Capitals’ penalty kill by finishing with 245 short-handed minutes for a penalty kill that was fifth in the NHL with an 82% success rate.

Securing the 25-year-old Fehervary to a long-term deal means the Capitals now have seven players who have more than three years remaining on their current contracts.

It also means the Capitals front office has one less decision to make ahead of what is expected to be an active offseason in 2026 that will see the club have what PuckPedia projects to be $39.25 million in cap space.

That’s also the same offseason in which captain and NHL all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin‘s contract will come off their books along with that of defenseman John Carlson.

But until then, the Capitals have their entire top-six defensive unit under contract as they seek to improve upon a 2024-25 season that saw them finish atop the Metropolitan Division with 111 points before they lost in the Eastern Conference semifinal to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.

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