THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 9, 1994 TAG: 9407090333
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
Leave it to a guy like John Daly to spark controversy at the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic from a continent away.
The long-hitting Daly, quoted in The Sun newspaper out of London, said between rounds of the Scottish Open that ``there are certain people on the tour who do crazy stuff . . . drugs, cocaine, some of the other crazy stuff. . one of the cleanest guys out there.''
So is Daly - who underwent alcohol rehabilitation in the past year - blowing the whistle on a drug-crazed PGA Tour or is he just blowing smoke?
Either way, player Peter Jacobsen, a former member of the tour's policy board, indicated that anyone using mind-altering drugs would be cutting into their own livelihood.
PGA Tour players do not have guaranteed contracts like team sports players. They are rewarded for their weekly play. And in golf, where concentration is so important to success, drug usage would most likely have a negative affect on a player's abilities.
``But maybe it is time to have drug testing,'' said Jacobsen, who is also playing in the Scottish Open. ``Statistics prove there are guys on cocaine in all slices of life. While I was on the (PGA Tour policy) board, drug testing was discussed, but we didn't introduce it because we felt that if somebody had a problem they were probably not doing too well. They are certainly not on leaderboards.''
Glen Day, who is in second place after two rounds of the Anheuser-Busch, said he saw nothing wrong with the prospects of drug testing.
``Companies have drug testing, all the major team sports do it,'' Day said. ``Bottom line, if it's illegal you shouldn't be doing it. As players, we are all independent contractors, but we belong to the PGA Tour. But somebody will be against it just because you're for it.''
Tournament leader and 10-year PGA Tour veteran Bob Lohr said, ``I've never felt we've had that kind of a problem. This is a different kind of sport. We don't have guaranteed contracts. I don't see it as a major issue or a major problem. And if guys are doing it, I'm not aware of it.''
Justin Leonard, just out on tour after winning the NCAA individual title, said he saw no problems with drug testing and had undergone random testing over a dozen times at the University of Texas the last four years.
``They have it in other sports, of course drug use is probably more common in other sports,'' Leonard said. ``But I wouldn't rule out tennis or golf and if you do it for one you should do it for the other.''
After his initial comments, Daly tempered his stance when questioned further.
``I don't know of anybody who does drugs on the tour, but I have heard rumors. I don't know it, but I believe it.''
Scottish golfer Gordon Brand Jr. called Daly's statements ``a load of rubbish.''
It is the second time this season that drug usage among players has been insinuated by a PGA Tour player. The eccentric Mac O'Grady, referred to in tour circles as ``Wacko Grady,'' charged that a number of players among the top 30 money winners were using beta blockers to calm nerves and make them better putters.
In a statement released by John Morris, vice president of PGA Tour communications, Morris said, ``We have no reaction on John's comments until John and the commissioner (Tim Finchem) have spoken and right now we have no idea when that will happen.''
Daly is slated to remain overseas to play in next week's British Open. by CNB