PGA Tour mandates masks indoors amid surging COVID-19 cases

With COVID-19 cases surging throughout the United States due to different variants, the PGA Tour is going back to its previous guidelines of mandating that all individuals wear masks indoors at events regardless of their vaccination statuses. 

The Tour isn't yet re-implementing weekly coronavirus testing of personnel at tournaments, but that isn't entirely off the table. 

In an email shared by ESPN's Bob Harig on Wednesday, Andy Levinson, senior vice president, tournament administration for the PGA Tour, said: 

"Given the increase in cases across the country, resumption of some level of serial testing is a possibility. However, at this time with our high vaccination rates across core constituents, our medical advisers have not recommended testing of asymptomatic individuals regardless of vaccination status." 

The Tour reports that over 70% of players and over 90% of caddies are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Weekly testing at Tour events ended two weeks ago. 

Earlier in the day, American Bryson DeChambeau suggested he didn't regret not getting vaccinated even though he missed out on competing at the Summer Olympics because he tested positive for the virus. 

"I don't think taking the vaccine away from someone who needs it is a good thing," DeChambeau explained during his comments. "My dad is a perfect example. He got it (the vaccine) early on because he's a diabetic. People like that need to get it. My mom got it. I don't want to take away that ability.

"Now as time goes on, if it (the vaccine) is mainstream, really, really mainstream, then yeah."