Jon Rahm revealed he was ‘devastated’ at missing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and was insistent he did not have Covid-19 despite testing positive for the virus just days before the event was set to take place.
The world number one was forced to withdraw from the Olympic golf tournament at Kasumigaseki Country Club after testing positive for Covid-19 the day before he was set to head to Tokyo.
This was the second time the 26-year-old had provided a positive test result in less than two months, after he was dramatically informed live on TV that he must withdraw from the Memorial Tournament despite having a 54-hole lead after returning a positive test.
Ahead of his proposed trip to Tokyo, the US Open champion followed strict protocol at both the Scottish Open, and Open Championship – where he tested negative – however after returning to the United States the Spaniard then tested positive for Covid-19 before his flight to the Games.
Rahm now finally returns to action at this week’s opening FedEx Cup play-off event, the Northern Trust and opened up on his frustrating few weeks away following his positive test.
He said: “This was a little harder to digest than Memorial because I’ve done everything the system tells me to do. First one on Thursday negative, Friday negative, Saturday I get my first positive. And then they tested me again that same day, and I apparently was positive again.
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“Then I got tested the next two days. One was the saliva test, one was PCR, both negative. Got an antibody test done, so blood test, and I had the antibodies.”
Rahm added: “So I can’t really explain what in the world happened. I don’t know if it’s false positives or just what I had leftover from when I had Covid, just dead cells that were in there that we all know can happen. There’s a reason why the PGA Tour won’t test you for a while after you’ve had Covid.”
Ahead of the Northern Trust the world number one also revealed he had no symptoms following his second positive test, further insisting he did not have the virus.
He commented: “Well, I wasn’t ill. I can guarantee you I didn’t have Covid this time, not at all.
“I had five tests done, four of them were negative, one was positive. That first time I did have Covid, barely any symptoms, but I had it. This time I had nothing.”
The 26-year-old has enjoyed arguably the best year of his career to date, having moved to the top of the world rankings and securing his first ever major title at Torrey Pines in June.
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Despite this, missing the opportunity to represent his nation at the Olympic Games is something six-time PGA Tour champion is extremely disappointed about.
He commented: “It really is unfortunate. It sucked because I wanted to represent Spain. I wanted to hopefully give Spain a medal. I was wishing for a gold medal, but just being part of that medal count for the country would have been huge.
“It was more devastating in that sense. I was more in the mindset of playing for them more than me.”
In spite of the disappointment Rahm already has his eyes on the next games in Paris in three years time: “Still makes me a little sad, I’m not going to lie. I’m going to have to wait three more years hopefully to qualify for the Olympics, but I was really ready for this one.”
The 26-year-old will be looking to put his coronavirus woes behind him as he kicks off his FedEx Cup play-offs at the Liberty National Course tomorrow alongside Harris English and Abraham Ancer in the opening round.
