A host of UK and Irish golfers have withdrawn ahead of the second day's play at the Joburg Open, the first event of the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour; in rugby union, Scarlets and Cardiff also trying to return to Wales from South Africa
Saturday 27 November 2021 10:31, UK
A host of UK and Irish golfers withdrew from the Joburg Open ahead of the second day's play on Friday after South Africa was added to the UK government's travel red list.
Englishmen Oliver Fisher, Steven Brown, Richard McEvoy, Matthew Jordan, Andrew Wilson, Matt Ford and Graeme Storm, Scots Richie Ramsay, Liam Johnston and Craig Howie, Northern Ireland's Jonathan Caldwell and Cormac Sharvin and Welshman Oliver Farr, all pulled out of the tournament, along with Irish pair Niall Kearney and Paul Dunne.
England's Ross Fisher is the latest player to withdraw. The 2010 Ryder Cup star was one of the players to complete their second round on Friday and while he made the cut, he chose not to complete the DP World Tour season opener.
UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said flights to England from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe will be suspended from midday Friday and all six countries will be added to the red list.
Anyone arriving after 4am on Saturday will need to stay at a managed quarantine hotel.
The Joburg Open is the first event of the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, and is the first of a 47-tournament DP World Tour schedule.
It also marks the start of The Open Qualifying Series, with the leading three players inside the top 10 - not already exempt - securing their invites to next year's major at St Andrews.
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