'Rookie' Grant Faces Possible First Major Absence Due to Vaccine Non-Compliance

Last Year's LET Award and Rookie Award Winner
Unlikely to Participate in Extended US Public Health Crisis

'Rising star' Lin Grant (Sweden) faces a red light for participation in the season's first major tournament due to being unvaccinated against COVID-19.

Lin Grant, winner of the DP World Tour
Photo by Yonhap News

On the 31st (local time), the U.S. golf media Golfweek reported, "Grant will not be able to participate in the Chevron Championship, the season's first major tournament, because she has not received the COVID-19 vaccine." This follows the U.S. government's extension of the 'COVID-19 Public Health Emergency' for 90 days on March 11th due to the spread of Omicron subvariants. Accordingly, the entry ban policy for unvaccinated individuals has also been extended.

U.S. experts expect these regulations to continue at least until early May. Although the Biden administration announced its goal to lift the emergency by May 11th, it remains uncertain whether this will be realized. The Chevron Championship, which Grant was scheduled to participate in, will be held over four days from April 20th to 23rd at the Carlton Woods Club in Texas, USA.

In January last year, for the same reason, tennis star Djokovic (Serbia) was unable to participate in the Australian Open. Djokovic entered Melbourne, Australia, unvaccinated at the time, had his visa immediately canceled, and lost a lawsuit against the Australian federal government before returning home. Tennis fans at the time launched a petition saying, "Do not force COVID-19 vaccination and allow Djokovic's entry."

Grant is a 'rising star' who became the first woman to win a mixed-gender tournament jointly organized by the DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour (LET) in June last year. Including that tournament, she lifted four trophies last year alone and won the LET Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year awards. She is currently ranked 28th in the world.

Grant is also likely unable to participate in the Hanwha LifePlus International Crown, which resumes this year. This tournament will be held from May 4th to 7th at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, USA. Four players with the highest world rankings from each country qualify to participate, and Grant is ranked second highest after Madeleine Saxstr?m (Sweden), who is ranked 25th in the world.