DP World Tour: Joburg Open Leaderboard
Mother Nature isn't co-operating after all the ballyhoo surrounding this week's launch of "a new era" in European Tour golf, the DP World Tour couldn't get off to a worse start.
First yesterday's announcement regarding the outbreak of a new COVID-19 variant in South Africa, leading to the Joburg Open being reduced to 54 holes to help non South African players to get flights out before their home countries stop operations.
The the weather stopped play during round 2, with the field returning a dawn this morning to complete play and begin the final round 3.
Just moments ago round 3 was suspended due to dangerous weather in the Johannesburg area. It's possible it may be reduced to a 36 hole event.
As I noted yesterday next weeks SA Open is now just a Sunshine Tour event for South Africans only and the following week's Alfred Dunhill has been cancelled all together.
Canadian Aaron Cockerill, desperately trying to keep his playing privileges for 2022 made the cut and played 6 holes of round 3 in E this morning, and stands at -3. The lead is at -11.
Canada is among other countries cancelling flights out of the 7 countries infected in South Africa, and today will be announcing flight restrictions into the country.
Their are no direct flights from the area to Canada, so Canadian citizens and permanent residents are trying to get home via Europe, the Middle East and the USA.
It won't be easy with travellers being forced to get a molecular test in the airport they travel through, then must get another test in Canada and wait in an appointed hotel for 3 days for the results.
Further if the test is negative they are required to quarantine for 14 days at home and take another test after 8 days.
Also anyone who just got back from South Africa before these measures kicked in MUST go and be tested asap.
There are an estimated 50,000 South Africans living in Canada, the majority, around 20,000 in Ontario. So far, despite all the media attention there are less than 100 reported cases of the new variant.
Bryan Angus
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