The impact of the coronavirus was felt on the European Tour this week when Italian tour players Edoardo Molinari and Lorenzo Gagli were initially asked to withdraw from the Oman Open on Wednesday, but then subsequently reinstated in time to take part in the tournament, which teed off at Al Mouj Golf Course in Muscat today [February 27].
Gagli, who exhibited flu-like symptoms, was tested for the virus on Wednesday and told that the result would be available in two days, and that he would have to wait in his hotel room for a whole week under the orders of the Omani Ministry of Health, forcing him to miss the tournament and also withdraw from next week’s Qatar Masters. Molinari, who was Gagli’s roommate, was relocated to another room to self-quarantine.
Earlier today, the Omani Ministry of Health reported that Gagli’s test results had come back negative, and the European Tour then took that decision that it was safe for both players to be reinstated into the tournament, and they teed off together at 1.30pm local time.
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour said: “This is a difficult global situation, one during which we will continue to follow all guidance given to us on preventive measures, and all decisions will continue to be made in the interests of overall public health. We will also continue to work closely with our own health experts and local authorities to ensure we have the latest medical and travel advice for all our tournaments, because the well-being of our players, staff and spectators remains the European Tour’s absolute priority.”
Speaking about the original order to withdraw himself from the tournament, Gagli said: “It was an inexplicable decision. I arrived in Oman last Sunday, and over the last few days I’ve worked out in the gym with dozens of other players. I ate with them and travelled by bus with them. If there was a risk of contagion, then they would have to isolate dozens of golfers and cancel the whole tournament, not just exclude two players.”