Golf

DeCheambeau has "no regrets" about not getting COVID-19 vaccine

If you were on the fence regarding the Bryson DeChambeau - Brooks Koepka feud, the former will su...

Richie McCormack

@richiemccormack

Golf

Richie McCormack

@richiemccormack

If you were on the fence regarding the Bryson DeChambeau - Brooks Koepka feud, the former will surely have swayed you by now.

DeChambeau claims to have "no regrets" about his decision not to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, despite contracting COVID-19.

The world no.7 was forced to pull out of the Olympic golf competition before travelling after testing positive for the virus. His place on the US team went instead to Patrick Reed.

DeChambeau said he lost 10 pounds in weight following his diagnosis on July 23.

The 27-year old said he didn't begin to experience symptoms ("coughing spurts") until after his positive test.

Speaking ahead of this week's WGC St. Jude Invitational, DeChambeau was asked if he regretted not getting vaccinated in time.

"The thing is," he replied, "The vaccine doesn’t necessarily prevent it from happening.

"That’s where for me, I’m young enough, I’d rather give it to people that need it. I don’t need it. I’m healthy.

"I’m a young individual that will continue to be healthy and continue to work on my health.

"But I don’t think that taking a vaccine away from someone that could need it is a good thing.”

Where young Bryson is of course wrong is that vaccines help prevent contracting the disease, while also reducing the risk of passing the disease on to those around you.

Only 85.5 per cent of the Olympic team travelling to Tokyo were vaccinated. Ten national Olympic committees had numbers of 94 per cent or more, with two of those 100 per cent vaccinated.

DeChambeau said both of his parents - including diabetic father Jon - have been vaccinated.

Our Mensa member added, "As time goes on, if it’s mainstream – like, really, really mainstream – and everything is vetted out, yeah, I don’t have an issue [getting vaccinated].”