Yahoo Finance Eddie Pepperell joins Lee Westwood in rejecting chance to play at USPGA due to coronavirus levels in America
Eddie Pepperell has emulated countryman Lee Westwood and decided not to take advantage of America’s eased quarantine rules and so grab the chance play in next week’s USPGA Championship.
But another Englishman, Paul Waring, will travel over to California if he recovers from a back injury in time.
The players received a memo from the PGA Tour on Friday declaring that the White House had lifted the rules for "players, caddies and essential personnel" and that they are now exempt from the fortnight seclusion.
This was no use for the likes of Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Italy’s Francesco Molinari and the young Scot, Bob MacIntyre, who had already travelled over to fulfil the requirement, but certainly would have been for those such as Westwood and Pepperell who had elected to appear at last week’s Betfred British Masters, won at Close Hose on Saturday by Italian Renato Parare.
However, Westwood revealed on Saturday: “I’m still not comfortable.” He added: “I’m concerned that America doesn't take coronavirus as seriously as the rest of the world,”. Pepperell confirmed to Telegraph Sport he was also relinquishing his spot for the season’s first major.
“The fact it’s in San Francisco and is so far away... well, to be quite honest I’m not that interested in taking a 12-hour flight, that is way down the list of priorities,” Pepperell said. “I’m not concerned for my own safety with this virus, but I understand it can affect people in other ways. Just the idea of going to San Francisco is not worth it - I would rather go that far east to Bali.”
Waring, the world No 85, fears his decision will be made for him, after tweaking his back in practice recently. “I’m trying my best [to be there], but it’s looking doubtful,” he said.
