The LPGA Tour is monitoring the situation after seven people, including star and defending champion Rose Zhang, withdrew from the Mizuho Americas Open this week due to various illnesses.
Zhang, 20, withdrew from the tournament in New Jersey after just three holes on Thursday.
“I am really disappointed that I had to withdraw from the Mizuho Americas Open today,” Zhang said in a statement on social media. “This tournament holds a special place in my heart after having such a great week last year when I captured my first LPGA Tour victory here at Liberty National. I was really looking forward to defending my title, but Unfortunately, I have been experiencing very severe intestinal pain for the last 12 hours.
Zhang has won twice on the LPGA Tour, including for the first time in her career at last year’s Mizuho Americas Open – which she did as an amateur. She also won the Cognizant Founders Cup earlier this season.
She was far from the only one to withdraw from the event. Maja Stark and Caroline Masson withdrew from the tournament due to illness and were replaced by So Mi Lee and Mao Saigo as alternates. Lee sat in second place halfway through the tournament and Saigo was three shots behind.
Ruoning Yin withdrew after her opening round, just as Paula Creamer, Lindsey Weaver-Wright, Jiwon Jeon, Haeran Ryu, A Lim Kim and Minami Katsu also withdrew from the tournament. Three of the 10 golfers who withdrew did so due to injuries unrelated to the apparent illness prevalent on the course. Specifics of the disease – other than Zhang saying she has “bad gut pain” – are not known.
“Medical professionals on site have treated several athletes for symptoms related to a viral infection,” the Tour said. “The LPGA and tournament organizers continue to monitor the situation closely and are working together to advise and assist LPGA athletes with precautions to try to keep everyone healthy.”
Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul led by two shots at the half, although she was quickly overtaken by Hannah Green on Saturday after posting a 9-under 63. Nelly Korda, who won five in a row on the Tour earlier this year, was just three shots. took the lead again on Saturday afternoon.
