The LPGA Tour is monitoring the state of affairs after seven folks, together with star and defending champion Rose Zhang, withdrew from the Mizuho Americas Open as a result of numerous diseases this week.
Zhang, 20, pulled out of the New Jersey event after simply three holes on Thursday.
“I’m actually dissatisfied that I needed to withdraw from the Mizuho Americas Open right this moment,” Zhang mentioned in an announcement on social media. “This event holds a particular place in my coronary heart, having had such a tremendous week final yr once I captured my first LPGA Tour win right here at Liberty Nationwide. I used to be actually wanting ahead to making an attempt to defend my title, however sadly spent the final 12 hours with actually unhealthy intestinal ache.”
Zhang has received twice on the LPGA Tour, together with for the primary time in her profession eventually yr’s Mizuho Americas Open, which she did as an newbie. She received the Cognizant Founders Cup earlier this season, too.
She was removed from alone in withdrawing from the occasion. Maja Stark and Caroline Masson pulled out forward of the event as a result of diseases, they usually had been changed by So Mi Lee and Mao Saigo as alternates. Lee was sitting in second on the halfway level of the event, and Saigo was three pictures again.
Ruoning Yin withdrew after her opening spherical, as did Paula Creamer, Lindsey Weaver-Wright, Jiwon Jeon, Haeran Ryu, A Lim Kim and Minami Katsu. Three of the ten golfers who withdrew did so as a result of accidents, unrelated to a illness. Specifics of the sickness — apart from Zhang saying she had “unhealthy intestinal ache” — are unknown.
“Medical professionals on website have handled a number of athletes for signs associated to a viral an infection,” the Tour mentioned. “The LPGA and event organizers proceed to watch the state of affairs intently, and are working collectively to advise and help the LPGA athletes with precautions to attempt to hold everybody wholesome.”
Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul led on the halfway level by two pictures, although she was rapidly overtaken by Hannah Inexperienced on Saturday after she posted a 9-under 63. Nelly Korda, who received 5 straight instances on the Tour earlier this yr, was simply three pictures again of the lead as of Saturday afternoon.
