Miami (AFP)

Golfers living outside the United States will have to observe a quarantine of 14 days before being able to take part in the tournaments of the North American circuit PGA, whose season must start again in camera in June, announced the authority Wednesday.

The British Matthew Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood, as well as the Italian Francesco Molinari are among the 25 golfers likely to make their return to American soil very soon.

Their goal is to be at Forth Worth (Texas) where the Charles Schwab Challenge, the first professional tournament to be held, is to take place from June 11 to 14, two months after the Covid-19 put golf under the hood.

"We are working with the federal government to facilitate the return of players and caddies currently residing abroad and we are optimistic that this will happen before competition resumes," said Andy Levinson, PGA vice president.

Quarantine for two weeks is a precondition for golfers to return to the United States. "This is the agreed directive and it will probably last," said Levinson.

At the moment, the body is not sure how many of the 25 players based abroad plan to return.

The PGA circuit has also established its security protocols for at least the first four tournaments to come, all to be played behind closed doors. Tests for the coronavirus and taking a temperature are part of the guidelines designed after consultation with medical experts and government authorities, at the host sites.

Any player who tests positive must immediately go into auto quarantine for at least 10 days, and if a player tests positive after playing two rounds, he will be paid as if he had finished in last place.

"We are not going to play if we cannot do it in a safe and healthy environment," said PGA golf operations chief Tyler Dennis.

- Disinfectant masks and wipes -

The presence of PGA personnel, including officials in charge of rules and scores, security guards, certain clubhouse members, tournament staff, volunteers, coaches, will be allowed on the sites, unlike their family members.

The PGA tour will provide face masks and disinfectant wipes, and will cover testing costs for players, caddies and essential staff.

Players will collect the golf balls from the holes and will have to put their own clubs back in their bag. The caddies will be able to rake the bunkers and stretch the flags, but will have to apply hygienic wipes on these objects after having done so.

Finally, despite the usual conveniences, handshakes will not be allowed at the end of the game.

© 2020 AFP