Posted on 07/18/2007 2:55:33 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) - Gary Player put steroids at the forefront of the British Open on Wednesday, saying golf has its head buried in a bunker if it thinks the sport is clean and he knows of one player using performance- enhancing drugs.
The nine-time major champion urged golf organizations to start random testing.
"It's absolutely essential that we do that," Player said at Carnoustie, where he won the British Open in 1968. "We're dreaming if we think it's not going to come into golf."
Player says it already has.
"Whether it's HGH, whether it's Creatine or whether it's steroids, I know for a fact that some golfers are doing it," he said.
Asked how he knew for certain, he said one golfer told him.
"I took an oath prior to him telling me—I won't tell you where—but he told me what he did, and I could see this massive change in him," Player said. "And somebody else told me something, that I also promised I wouldn't tell, that verified others had done it."
The cryptic accusation put the Royal & Ancient Golf Club on the defensive over why it does not have drug testing at the British Open, with chief executive Peter Dawson being asked whether he was concerned that its winner could be using steroids.
"I don't know if Gary Player is right about golfers being on drugs, frankly, so I really can't comment," Dawson said. "One thing I do know is that we're not drug testing here at the Open championship this week, so just how that would be identified, I'm not sure."
The R&A and the USGA used drug testing for the first time last November at the World Amateur Team Championship in South Africa, where all 12 samples came back negative.
The LPGA Tour has said it will start drug testing next year and recently disclosed a list of banned substances to its players. The European Tour and the PGA Tour are working on drug policies, which PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said likely would lead to a testing program, although its first step is developing a list of drugs that would be banned.
Player did not say when this conversation with the purported steroid user took place, nor did he say whether he shared this information with tour officials.
"I can't speak to Gary's remarks," PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said. "I can't disagree and I can't agree with him. They are his remarks that's he is free to make."
None of the top players concurred with Player.
"He knows two (players)? I know zero," six-time major winner Nick Faldo said. "Never heard of anybody."
Tiger Woods, who last year said he would like to see the PGA Tour begin drug testing as quickly as possible, was asked Tuesday if he would be surprised if a golfer tested positive for drug use.
"If anything, probably out here it would be testing positive for maybe being hung over a little bit," Woods said. "But that's about it. I know some guys have taken Medrol packs for inflammation in their wrists, but other than that, I really don't see anybody doing anything, or have heard anybody doing anything."
Phil Mickelson also said he thought golfers were clean.
"I don't think there's even a remote chance that will happen," he said of a golfer testing positive for steroids.
The R&A and USGA are the governing bodies for golf around the world, although both Dawson and USGA executive director David Fay have said that leaders of the professional tours should take the lead in developing a drug policy.
Player said he felt 50 to 60 percent of athletes in the world are using performance-enhancing drugs. When asked for a number of golfers, he estimated 10.
"I might be way out," Player said. "Definitely not going to be lower, but might be a hell of a lot more."
LOL
My Dad was a protege of Ben Hogan and Byran Nelson. My husband is great; his brother is a pro; and his dad at one time was President of the Northern California Golf Assn. You think there may be golf in the blood in my family?
Have you ever heard the story about Daly going for a drink at a bar after a game he won and leaving his check there. They did manage to keep it for him.
I should say it was his first tournament.
NO. Clearly full of HGH, anabolic steroids, and other performance enhancing substances that I can neither spell nor pronounce.
I always like the story about Daly ing a drunken rage getting in a fight with his big screen TV and the TV winning!
Muscle building and flexibility are not only NOT mutually exclusive, they can actually go together quite well. When I’ve been lifting for several weeks, I’m more flexible than I was prior to that.
I guess there is still an open question about flexibility as it relates to unnatural growth, and I think your overall point here (that golf and steroids don’t exactly go together like football and roids) is probably correct.
I don’t think pro golfers would improve their game much on the juice. Too much of a premium on the short game. Plus, golf fitness routines have progressed that it really isn’t necessary. Even with ‘roids, you still have to put in the work, and the work itself is sufficient.
Tiger Woods, the top-ranked golfer, said he hasn't seen any evidence of drugs among his peers apart from those who take hangover cures or medication to reduce inflammation in their wrists.
``Other than that I really don't see anybody doing anything or have heard anybody doing anything,'' said Woods, who has called for drug testing in golf.
Gary Player Says Some Golfers Take Drugs to Boost Performance
We do! :-)
Sounds like you've got golf in the blood, and your family could probably start a used golf equipment store, if I know anything. :-)
Where there is smoke there is fire.
LOL My high school graduation gift was what else; a set of Ben Hogan golf clubs.
I with you.
I have never heard that one. LOL I will have to tell hubby.
This was back before flat panels became dominant. It was one of those old school, big giant CRT projection TVs. It fell over on him as he was beating on it.
LOL!
Yes I have seen him and he's built like a rock. Player was a fitness fanatic back before fitness was cool, and he could hit the ball just as far as the "big guys" on tour.
Both my wife and I run Hogan blades: Mine are Apexes from the mid-1990s, and she has a new (used) set of Princesses. Got to regrip hers this summer, I think...
LOL serves him right
I can not fathom how steroids would be of benefit in golf.
the top 300 golfers on earth have roughly the same level of talent. the difference betwen the top tewenty and bottom twenty lies in the ability to control emotions. From what I understand, steroid use would hurt more than help in this area.
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