Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty ImagesThe PGA Tour will end its weekly COVID-19 testing program beginning with the 3M Open on July 22.ESPN's Bob Harig received a portion from Tyler Dennis, Senior Vice President of PGA Tour.After consulting with PGA Tour medical advisors, we are happy to announce that COVID-19 testing will not be required for competitions beginning with the 3M Open.According to the PGA Tour, it will continue to offer on-site testing to people with symptoms and may still perform periodic testing of all constituents.The tour's original testing protocols were laid out as it prepared for the return of play last June. To be eligible to play in a tournament, players and their caddies had to perform a negative test.The COVID-19 vaccine was being rolled out, so the protocols were revised in April to give more flexibility to those who have been vaccinated. This included a halt of routine testing.After the third round Jon Rahm had led by six shots, and seemed poised to win the Memorial Tournament. He was forced to withdraw.According to the PGA Tour, he was subject to contact-tracing due to close contact with a COVID-19-positive person. A positive test was performed before the third round, and it was confirmed by a second test.Tod Leonard of Golf Digest says that vaccinated people will not have to conduct contact-tracing if they are in close proximity to someone with the virus.
