Leading the Memorial by six strokes, Jon Rahm forced to withdraw after positive COVID-19 diagnosis

Jon Rahm was rolling in dominant fashion to his second consecutive Memorial Tournament win after an unbelievable 64 on Saturday at Muirfield Village. Things took a devastating turn post-round, however, as he was alerted by the PGA Tour that he tested positive for COVID-19 and would be forced to withdraw from the tournament after three rounds.

Rahm was informed by the PGA Tour on Monday that he was in contact tracing protocol as he was in close proximity to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Rahm tested negative throughout the week but a positive test popped up on Saturday while he was on the course. He was informed shorty after shooting his 64 — one of the best rounds on the PGA Tour all year — and immediately withdrew from the tournament.

Rahm, who was looking for his first win of 2021, was absolutely in full control of a difficult golf course. He was first in strikes gained off the tee, on approach shots and from tee to green as well as second in putting. He’d gained a preposterous 21 strokes on the field through 54 holes against one of the best non-major fields of the entire year.

Nevertheless, somebody else will win now take home the tournament title. Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay are both 12 under, six back of where Rahm was after 54 holes, but will play together late on Sunday with the tournament on the line. Both of these golfers have won tournaments at this course over the last two years — Cantlay at the 2019 Memorial and Morikawa at the 2020 Workday Charity Open.