RORY McILROY got some light relief from the coronavirus cloud surrounding the RCB Heritage when a tiny crab burrowed under playing partner Bubba Watson’s ball in a bunker.
Despite shooting a five-under-par 66 in the third round, the world No1 knew he was effectively moving sideways too, with Harbour Town again offering up plenty of low scores.
At least McIlroy enjoyed being able to concentrate on golf again, after revealing he had spoken to Nick Watney – the first PGA Tour player to test positive for Covid-19 – just before the American withdrew from the tournament on Friday.
After carrying out the contact tracing protocols the PGA Tour insisted on tests for 11 more players and caddies.
They included Hancock’s playing partners in the opening round, Vaughan Taylor and Luke List, as well as former Masters champion Sergio Garcia, who flew to Hilton Head with Hancock.
They all came back negative. Garcia and Taylor were able to tee it up in the third round, while List, who missed the cut at Harbour Town, will be free to play in the Travelers Championship next week in Connecticut.
Hancock, 39, will spend ten days in isolation, and will have to provide two negative tests before he can resume playing.
McIlroy was not among those re-tested, as he explained: “I didn’t feel like I was in close enough proximity to need another test, and I wasn’t feeling any symptoms. I feel totally fine.
“No, I saw him on the putting green, and we kept our distance, and that was it. It’s shame for Nick, and for golf, that he caught the virus, but I think we kind of knew this was likely to happen.
“I think when we were starting back up, people were weren’t naive. Just statistically, and looking at the numbers, someone was going to get it.
“Even being as careful as you can be, things happen, and you pick it up from somewhere.
“We’re still in the middle of a pandemic. And I think we’ve done really well to start playing golf again, and get back up and play golf tournaments.
“I don’t think anyone was blind to the fact that someone could catch the virus. But it’s one case, and as long as it’s contained to that and we move forward, we can keep playing.”
Mcilroy insisted he felt “totally safe” in the bubble the PGA Tour has tried to create at each tournament.
And world No4 Justin Thomas pointed the finger of blame at the lack of coronavirus restrictions at the resort hosting the event, Hilton Head Island.
It is part of South Carolina, where 992 new cases were reported this week – after the number had remained steady at around 400 for the past few months.
Thomas fumed: “Obviously, I was bummed at hearing Nick tested positive. It’s a shame because we have done such a great job these first two weeks.
“I mean, no offense to Hilton Head, but they’re seeming to not take it very seriously. It’s an absolute zoo around here. There’s people everywhere.
“The beaches are absolutely packed. Every restaurant, from what I’ve seen when I’ve been driving by, is absolutely crowded.
“So I would say it’s that there’s got to be a lot of stuff going on around here.
“Unfortunately, that’s not on Nick because I know he’s very cautious and has done everything he can. But I would say a lot of people in this area of Hilton Head just aren’t.”
With spectators barred until the Memorial tournament next month, those holidaymakers are not allowed onto the course at Harbour Town, and they have missed a birdie-fest.
The scoring spree included 63s for Joaquin Niemann of Chile and American journeyman Chris Stroud.
That allowed them to leap to 13 under par, a shot ahead of 36 hole leader Webb Simpson, who had not started his third round.
Justin Rose matched McIlroy’s 66 to join him on ten under.
