Vijay and Rudolph walk into a bar…

Reuters

Sorry that I’ve not been keeping my readers up to date on this developing story, as it has grown 1000 legs since first surfacing in the news just 24 hours ago. For those who would like more background, you can read the original Sports Illustrated article that broke the news back on Tuesday HERE. In that article you’ll get a pretty thorough overview of what exactly makes deer antlers the new must-have banned substance on the illegal users’ performance enhancing drug market, and if you’re like me – you’ll get this enormous sense that a significant number of athletes will go to great lengths to gain whatever competitive edge they can, even if it involves digesting bone fragments of possum, rabbit, roosters, or any other number of feathered or furry woodland critters.

Now I admit that in my current form – one would never confuse yours truly for being a professional athlete relying on his athleticism to earn a zillion dollars each year. Suffice to say, I’m not tempted by the pressures that accompany life in the athletically competitive arena. That said, if deer antlers or any of the aforementioned animal products above show some promise in magically removing 75 unwanted pounds of excess cellulite? Sorry, but you had me at hello, as Jerry Maguire’s girlfriend would say.

And if you would be so kind, please excuse me now while I go purchase my hunting license and look through my rolodex for Boo Weekley’s phone number.

Getting back to the serious discussion at hand now… Apparently Vijay Singh was one of several names mentioned in the SI article above, an article that basically outs several professional athletes by alleging that they’ve used the banned substance IGF-1, which from what I’ve read indicates that the deer antler substance stimulates muscle growth in a similar manner as that of HGH, formally known as human growth hormone. For what it’s worth, and in case you didn’t catch it in the article, IGF-1 is banned by most all recognized sports organizations world-wide, including the PGA Tour. The only problem as it relates to the PGA Tour is that through their current drug testing program – their testing methods don’t detect the banned substance obtained through deer antlerology. Another problem, potentially an even bigger problem at that, is that according to THIS  recent article posted on Geoff Shackelford’s blog – Vijay isn’t the only professional golfer on the PGA Tour who might’ve dabbled with deer antlers. You might take note of the promotional video at the bottom of that article that seems to implicate several well-known Champions Tour players as well.

And it might be best at this precise moment that I reiterate my statement I made earlier this afternoon about legalities and liabilities. I do want to make it crystal clear that I’m not stating that anyone is guilty of anything, even those who may have admitted it after the fact, but might decide to change their minds at some point down the road. You can never be too careful in this day and age. But Vijay issued THIS statement earlier this afternoon, admitting he was using the substance. I’ll add his statement below.

“In light of the recent article on sportsillustrated.com, I want to issue the following statement: While I have used deer antler spray, at no time was I aware that it may contain a substance that is banned under the PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Policy. In fact, when I first received the product, I reviewed the list of ingredients and did not see any prohibited substances. I am absolutely shocked that deer antler spray may contain a banned substance and am angry that I have put myself in this position. I have been in contact with the PGA TOUR and am cooperating fully with their review of this matter. I will not be commenting further at this time.”

As much as I’m sure that Singh is hoping that this would put the matter to bed, rest assured that it’s probably not even remotely the case.

Some of you might recall a fella by the name of Doug Barron, the only PGA Tour player to ever have been suspended by the Tour for using substances that were banned by the Tour’s Anti Doping policy. This happened back in 2009, although there are a couple of differences. For starters, Barron claimed that the banned substances he was taking were to treat an existing medical condition and prescribed by his personal physician, despite knowing that the substances (beta blockers) were deemed illegal. Barron appealed the ruling, but the Tour refused to budge from their verdict and the suspension was upheld. But according to Vijay, he was unaware that the deer antler spray contained a banned substance, although it’s worth noting (at least in most courts of law) that ignorance isn’t a sufficient defense. The bottom line, as will likely be said at least a few times over the coming weeks, is that every player is responsible for knowing if any medications, vitamins and supplements they’re taking contain substances deemed illegal with respect to the Tour’s Anti Doping policy. The other difference, as noted earlier, is that the deer antler spray substance isn’t detectable under current Tour drug testing methods, which I’m guessing will likely change very soon given the amount of controversy this all entails.

So how does the Tour proceed? Do they offer Singh (and maybe others) a one-time reprieve for admitting they’ve used the substance, given that their program’s testing methods don’t detect it? Or do they hold the line as their policy states? It is, after all, an illegal substance and anyone with access to a computer and a popular Internet search engine could figure it out. Of which, is why I say that ignorance might get some sympathy, but maybe not enough to lend that amount of forgiveness.

One thing is certain: it’ll be interesting to see how all of this unfolds.

And you can rest assured that a fella by the name of Doug Barron is an interested spectator in all of this as well, which doesn’t exactly bode well for those involved. The PGA Tour is in quite a pickle.

News, Notes, and Quotes from the Week in Review

For starters, how about a round of applause for Sandra Gal, the 25-yr-old LPGA Tour player who became only the second German player ever to win an LPGA Tour event on Sunday at the Kia Classic. Gal and fellow competitor Jiyai Shin were in the final pairing and going head-to-head in the final round, thanks to their sizable lead ahead of everyone else in the field. The tournament came down to the final hole, and essentially their final approach shots to the par5 finishing hole.

Shin elected to lay up well short of the green with her second shot, giving her a full wedge approach to the elevated green. She hit a beautiful shot that hit a few feet in front of the pin before biting and stopping 5 feet beyond. Gal likewise opted to lay up with her second, but played a much longer shot that got her to within 80 yards of the green. Gal played her 3/4 wedge shot brilliantly, hitting her ball only a few inches beyond the hole and almost going in before spinning back a mere 18 inches for a tap-in birdie. Advantage Gal. Shin admitted afterward that she felt the pressure, knowing that her opponent had basically left herself a tap-in. As a result, Shin would miss and Gal would brush in the short tap-in, collecting the first win of her LPGA career. “I had the belief coming out this morning that I could win,” Gal said. “I thought I could do it. I just tried to play the course instead of Jiyai.”

I might also add that she looks just a tad different in a swimsuit versus typical LPGA Tour garb….

And some not-so-good news for another German golfer: Last week it was revealed that Bernhard Langer will be out of action for 2 months because of an injury he sustained to his thumb during a biking accident. Langer needed surgery, and as a result the 2-time Masters Champion will not be in the field at Augusta for the first time since 1983. Langer has already won once this season on the Champions Tour, and his absence will certainly shakeup the season-ending Charles Schwab Points Cup race.

Beam me up, Scotties: It was indeed a banner week for Scotland, as two of their countrymen took top honors in the world of golf. Martin Laird was somehow able to overcome a disastrous start on Sunday to pick up 2 timely birdies coming down the stretch, miraculously eking out a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, and a name from the Van de Veldean lore of Open Championship history – Paul Lawrie – became the oldest winner ever to win the Andalucian Open in Spain on the European Tour on Sunday as well.

Metal Spike Spat: When the conditions get as firm and difficult as the greens got Sunday at Bay Hill, it doesn’t take a whole lot to initiate some sparks. According to Stephanie Wei over at her blog, there was plenty of bickering going on about the condition of the greens, not necessarily about the firmness or the speed, but rather the overwhelming presence of heavy feet and metal spikes. “What upsets a lot of players isn’t that guys wear metal spikes, it’s that guys don’t pick their feet up and don’t pat their spikes down when they make them,” he (D.J. Trahan) said. “I think guys need to be a little more courteous about fixing their spike marks when they make them. I don’t care if they wear metal spikes, just be courteous to the guys coming behind you.”

Trying to Rebound: Alex Miceli over at GolfWeek.Com points out that Doug Barron (the PGA Tour Player who was suspended from the tour for the 2010 season for testing positive for a banned substance) has just cashed his first Tour check in several years. On Sunday, Barron finished tied for 33rd in the Nationwide Tour’s Chitimacha Louisiana Open, pocketing $2900. “I didn’t play perfect, by any means,” Barron said from his home in Memphis, Tenn., “but did make 20 birdies and an eagle.”

Q-School Restructuring More About Ratings? The revelation that Finchem and Co. are seriously considering revamping Q-School for Nationwide Tour-only access was a big topic last week, and overall the general reception behind the idea was mostly mixed. But Rex Hoggard over at the Golf Channel explains that the focus of such a drastic change might have an even larger ulterior motive: Ratings. Tucked into the second-to-last paragraph in the memo from commissioner Tim Finchem is the “why” behind the proposed restructuring. “The integration of the Qualifying Tournament into the Nationwide Tour when combined with the proposed Finals Series increases the attractiveness of the Nationwide Tour for the umbrella sponsor,” the memo read. Nationwide is out as the secondary circuit’s umbrella sponsor in 2012 and the restructuring is a not-so-veiled attempt to move product. But this is more than a fresh coat of paint on a fixer-upper. A Finals Series “playoff” model would undermine the competitive integrity of the Nationwide Tour’s regular season and the long-held notion that 12 months is better than three weeks.”

No 3-Group Backups at Amen Corner Next Week: J.B. Holmes needed a good finish at Bay Hill last week to get inside of the top 50 in the OWGR to get into next week’s Masters Tournament through the backdoor. But a horrendous back nine of 5-over 41 that led to his final round of 4-over 76 pretty much removed the possibility that he will be spending 2 agonizing hours each round reading the greens at Augusta National next week.

Best Player on Tour Without a Win? If the PGA Tour were to put together their own version of the movie, “Groundhog Day”, you would see Steve Marino waking up every Monday morning to Sonny and Cher blaring on the alarm clock, after having finished 2nd the day before in yet another tour event. Marino had his first PGA Tour victory well in hand on the back nine Sunday at Bay Hill, but stumbled badly on the par3 17th with a double bogey, which ultimately cost him the tournament. It is the 4th runner-up finish for the 31-yr-old Oklahoma native, his 2nd runner-up finish this season. Through 7 events in 2011, he’s already amassed $1.4 million in earnings, and is currently ranked 54th in the OWGR. That’s a lot of money, and a pretty good position in the world rankings to be O-fer.

 

Police Blotters, Cheating Underscore a Tumultuous Year in Golf

Okay, so this wasn’t one of professional golf’s most inspiring years.

Alas, it was the November from hell.

Do I look like I'm on Steroids?

November, 2009: It all started with a little tainted urine from a journeyman PGA touring pro who became the PGA Tour’s first official offender of the tour’s drug testing policy. Doug Barron claims that the drugs that caused him to test positive were prescribed by a personal physician for a health condition, medication that was essentially needed for quality of life reasons. Nevertheless, his appeal was denied and the 1-year suspension stood. Barron was last seen in his backyard trying to impress his neighbors by bench pressing his Volvo.

November 27, 2009: All hell broke loose at the luxurious gated community of Isleworth, courtesy of an intercepted text message and a fire hydrant that just so happened to violently dart in front of the luxury SUV driven by Tiger Woods. Meanwhile Bill Clinton sits at home eating leftover turkey and chuckles while watching ESPN news.

February, 2010: The taxman cometh and a Champions Tour veteran couldn’t runneth. Jim Thorpe was found guilty of tax evasion charges, more than $2 million worth matter of fact, was then suspended by the PGA Tour, and is currently serving a year in prison. Word has it that Thorpe has successfully chipped over 10,000 golf balls into his corner toilet over the past 6 months. His putting is reportedly a little yippish, however.

April 23, 2010: The golf world was shocked to learn that the LPGA’s top star is retiring from golf. 28-yr-old Lorena Ochoa officially announced her retirement, with plans of starting a family and continuing her charity foundation in her free time. With 27 LPGA Tour wins, including 2 major championships, the LPGA said goodbye to a great competitor and a wonderful ambassador for women’s golf.

May, 2010: The taxman cometh, again. This time from the Danish tax authorities, who were wondering how European Tour player Soren Hansen could live in two different countries at the same time. Hansen avoided jail time, but had to pay a hefty sum of 750,000 Euro. How do you say “f**k me” in German?

May 2010: Futures Tour player Erica Blasberg was found dead in her Henderson, Nevada home after she texted her caddie the evening prior to tell her that she wasn’t going to be at the qualifying round in Mobile, Alabama two days later. Her caddie (Missy Pederson) felt that something wasn’t right when she received the text the next morning. She texted Erica back, hoping to hear that nothing was wrong, but got no response. Several hours later the local authorities found her dead, and the investigation went on for months. In late August, the investigating authorities concluded through the autopsy that Blasberg had toxic levels of prescription drugs in her system and had taken her own life. But another angle of the story involving a personal acquaintance – Dr. Thomas Hess – would emerge, making the suicide ruling look very suspicious. You can read more on this story HERE and come to your own conclusion.

August 2010: The PGA Tour suspended rookie Matt Every for 3 months, for conduct unbecoming a professional. Every was arrested at an Iowa hotel back in July and charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana). He has reportedly taken a maintenance position at Bushwood Country Club, under the tutelage of Carl Spackler.

August 2010: Professional golf would once again take a nut-knocker with the alleged cheating scandal on the LPGA tour, courtesy of Shi Hyun Ahn and Il Mi Chung. The evidence that something improper occurred was overwhelming, but a brief Barney Fife investigation by the LPGA Tour concluded that nothing improper happened and it was just a “confusing” miscommunication problem. Uh, Yeah. Okay. So two players played the wrong balls on the final hole. One player allegedly knew about it, then informed the other player about it, then both players signed for their scores anyway without taking the penalty… then one of the players allegedly told her caddie that he didn’t see anything. Uh, sure. Move along folks, nothing to see here. Or at least that was the tour’s response. And you can read more about that HERE.

But there were a couple of silver linings, nevertheless.

The PGA Tour learned that it could survive a Tiger-less season of golf. While Tiger Woods was figuring out a way to reenter a public life inside the ropes, the tour kept on keeping on. New faces emerged. Old faces reemerged. And the drama and excitement of professional golf at the highest level didn’t blink an eye, at least to the real golf fanatics of the universe.

Old grooves, new grooves, blah blah blah… So much for the USGA thinking that the shallower grooves on golf clubs would impede the bomb-and-gouge era in golf. Paul Goydos? Stuart Appleby? Both carded historic rounds of 59 within a month of each other this season. A couple of near-misses with rounds of 60 were posted as well by a few other players. Nah, the bomb-and-gouge era is still alive and doing well, grooves be damned.

And for all of the criticism that Tim Finchem deals with on a weekly basis, it is worth noting that he’s done a pretty damned good job keeping PGA Tour sponsors on board despite a stagnant economic recession. The tour has lost a few sponsors in the process, but has picked a few up in return, and is in the process of securing a few more in the near future. Given the enormous challenges that the tour has faced regarding maintaining steady title sponsorship, Finchem has managed things very well. I think the tour will make it for a few more years, at least. 😉

With the PGA Tour Playoff finale at East Lake only a week away, and the 2010 Ryder Cup only a few more after that, the last chapter for this season in golf awaits to be written. But overall it has been a great year in golf, and next season should be even better. Maybe with a few less police blotters involved, but better.