PGA Tour is safest place in the US right now, insists world No 6 Webb Simpson

FedEx Cup leader feels 'safe and secure' despite six players testing positive for Covid-19

Former US Open champion Webb Simpson is bidding for his second win on PGA Tour since the restart last month after winning the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head. Picture: Getty Images

Webb Simpson, the FedEx Cup leader, insists the PGA Tour is the "safest place anyone can be in the United States right now" despite the number of Covid-19 positive tests since the circuit's return having risen to six.

Chad Campbell, the first alternate, was withdrawn from this week's Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit after joining Nick Watney, Cameron Champ, Denny McCarthy, Dylan Frittelli and Harris English in testing positive for the virus in the last two weeks.

Speaking ahead of his bid to land a second title triumph since the restart following his success in the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head just under a fortnight ago, Simpson said: "I applaud the PGA Tour and everything they've done and are doing to keep us safe.

"I mentioned to the commissioner (Jay Monahan) last week that, based on our numbers, our stats, the safest place anyone can be in the United States right now is on the PGA Tour.

"At that point, I think we had seven out of 2,300, 2,400 positive, which is amazing. So the lengths that the Tour is going to to make sure everyplace we go is safe and secure and our testing and all that, I feel very good about being out here.

"The next few weeks looks bright for us, it looks like we're going to continue on, which I'm really thankful for."

However, the world No 6 admitted that he feels those positive tests since the restart at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth three weeks ago has led to players taking the threat of catching the virus more seriously.

"I think this being the fourth tournament, I think guys are so aware of how easy it is to catch this disease that I think everyone else is becoming more strict," he added.

"That first week at Colonial there were still fist bumps after the round, closer contact I think on the range or player dining.

"There's way less of that now. Now, nobody's touching; maybe an elbow here or there. I'm definitely seeing how it's affecting everyone, not just those who have had contact with someone."

Simpson, who pulled out of last week's Travelers Championship in Connecticut to return home after his daughter suffered a Covid scare, said he is set to take precautionary measures himself through to the end of the Tour Championship in early September.

"Now through the end of Atlanta, my wife and I talked that we're going to really have to lock down our house," he admitted.

"Before the Colonial, we were getting a little bit more relaxed, you know, having people over on our back porch, a friend come see me, maybe a friend come work out with me, thinking we were kind of moving away from it.

"But, since the numbers have come back stronger, and I'm seeing that out here, you test positive, you're out for two to even three tournaments depending on when you test positive.

"So we will be more strict. I'm wearing my mask more than I was and I'm not really going out to dinner or even going to get takeout.

"We're staying in a hotel this week, we're going to try to get room service every night just to limit the chance of anything."

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