PGA Tour to end weekly COVID-19 testing in July

The PGA Tour announced Monday that it is ending its weekly COVID-19 testing program ahead of events for the 3M Open that begins July 22 and is held in Minneapolis. 

"We are pleased to announce, after consultation with PGA Tour medical advisors, that due to the high rate of vaccination among all constituents on the PGA Tour, as well as other positively trending factors across the country, testing for COVID-19 will no longer be required as a condition of competition beginning with the 3M Open," PGA Tour senior vice president Tyler Dennis said to players in a memo, per Bob Harig of ESPN. 

The Tour is not mandating players, caddies, and staff members get vaccinated against the coronavirus to take part in tournaments, but unvaccinated individuals who are deemed close contacts of an infected person will still have to test negative for the virus past July 20. Those who show virus symptoms will also have access to tests. 

According to Steve DiMeglio of Golf Week, tour executive Andy Levinson said earlier this month that "north of 50%" of players on the Tour were fully vaccinated as of the first week of June.