COVID Testing

It is required that all Player groups (players, caddies, player support, player guests including family) take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test before traveling to Houston. This test must be taken between 24 hours and seven days prior to your arrival to the championship. The required test is called Reverse Transcriptase (RT)-PCR SARS-CoV-2 and it tests for active presense of the virus. Please note that any other type of test, including antigen and antibody testing will not be accepted. This pre-arrival testing requirement may be satisfied if you took an on-site test at the Volunteers of America Classic on November 30 or later.

 

We recommend that you speak with your personal/family physician to discuss the testing options and process. Your physician may be available to administer the test for you or help you locate a testing site in your local area to schedule a COVID-19 test which meets the requirements above.  When scheduling your appointment, be sure to ask when you will receive your results back, as you will need to show written evidence of a negative test result when you arrive at the championship.

 

Those travelling internationally are responsible for obtaining a pre-arrival COVID-19 test that meets the requirements detailed above. Players and caddies can inquire directly with the USGA via uswoplayers@usga.org about reimbursement for these costs.

 

Players and caddies taking the test in the U.S. can order a saliva-based home test kit from Vault Health courtesy of the USGA. The USGA has made special arrangements with Vault Health to expedite the processing of your test results (usually within 48 hours of sending your sample). Please visit https://www.vaulthealth.com/covid for additional details and contact Sara Taylor (staylor@usga.org) of the USGA to order a Vault test kit.

For a list of COVID testing locations within the United States, please visit the following link: http://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html.

 

Upon arrival in Houston, players and all other personnel will be required to take a second COVID-19 test. Players, caddies and support (instructors, managers and interpreters) only may go on-site to practice while awaiting their test results (assuming they have received a negative pre-arrival test result), but will not have access to any indoor facilities until a negative result from their on-site test is obtained. All other attendees must wait for a negative result (which may take up to 24 hours after testing) before access to Champions Golf Club and entrance into the championship "bubble" is granted. While at the championship, attendees should avoid being in public, except to obtain necessities such as medical supplies and carry out food (note: dining at restaurants is prohibited).

 

The USGA will be utilizing the LPGA's testing process with Eurofins for this onsite COVID-19 testing requirement. Testing will begin on Thursday, December 3. Hours are TBD and will be sent at a later date. 

 

Testing with Eurofins will be located at:

Springhill Suites by Marriott Houston Northwest

20303 Chasewood Park Drive

Houston, TX 77070

 

On Friday, November 27, all essential personnel will receive further instructions and links to the necessary forms to complete for testing through Healthy Roster. Results will typically be returned within 24 hours of taking the test.