The PGA Tour sent an e-mail to advise players who are planning to play next week in the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, of potential risks associated with a recent typhoid outbreak and poor air quality.
GolfChannel.com obtained a copy of the e-mail, which claimed there have been more than 30 cases of typhoid reported in Kuala Lumpur since the beginning of August.
No fatalities have been reported from the outbreak, but players and staff were advised to drink only bottled or boiled water and to avoid ice and raw fruits, vegetables and meats.
The e-mail also warned of poor air quality around Kuala Lumpur because of severe drought conditions.
“Although the air quality conditions … in Kuala Lumpur are currently within acceptable levels, the air quality in and around the area in recent days has ranged from ‘moderate’ to ‘unhealthy’ (on the) Air Quality Index level,” the e-mail read.
Players who have chronic pulmonary or cardiac conditions were warned to “take extra precautions.”
“It is something we do as a precaution,” said Ty Votaw, the Tour’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “We do this with any international event as it relates to travel and what’s happening on the ground.”
Votaw said as of late this week, only one player had withdrawn from the tournament at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Ryan Moore is two-time defending champion in the event and the current field also includes Adam Scott of Australia, Ernie Els of South Africa, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Sergio Garcia of Spain, Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, Patrick Reed, Luke Donald of England, Stewart Cink, Nick Watney and Danny Lee of New Zealand.
