NAPA, Calif. – Jon Rahm withdrew from the pro-am Wednesday morning at the Fortinet Championship, citing stomach issues.
No word if the World No. 1 was simply sick to his stomach on being snubbed on Wednesday by his fellow pros who voted Patrick Cantlay as the PGA Tour Player of the Year Award.
Rahm originally was scheduled to tee off at 8:40 a.m. local time (11:40 a.m. ET), and do a press conference following his nine-hole pro-am. He begged out of the pro-am and pushed the press conference back to 2 p.m. Later, he canceled his press conference, and reportedly won’t be coming to the golf course at all on Wednesday.
Rahm, 26, is scheduled to tee off at No. 10 at Silverado Resort and Spa’s North Course at 7:44 a.m. local time in a threesome with Max Homa and Si Woo Kim.
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This is the first time that a World No. 1 has competed here in wine country. The timing of Rahm’s illness isn’t ideal. He is expected to be one of the leaders of Team Europe’s effort to retain the Ryder Cup next week at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wisconsin. He played on the victorious side at the 2018 Ryder Cup, including defeating Tiger Woods in a singles match.
Rahm tested positive for COVID-19 twice last season. In June, he withdrew from the Memorial after the third round with a six-stroke lead. In August, he tested positive again ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
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