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PGA Tour Players Deny Drug Use, Criticize Daly's Comments

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

US PGA Tour players competing in the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic in Williamsburg, Virginia, have strongly denied that drugs are a problem on the tour, responding to John Daly's call for drug testing. Colleagues of Daly have labeled him as "crawling back under the rock from which he came" and doubted that performance-enhancing drugs could make a difference in golf. Daly's comments are being seen as an attempt to take heat off his own struggles with alcohol abuse, with some players suggesting that if a golfer is on anything, they cannot play well. Meanwhile, American Mark McCumber led after three rounds of the Busch Classic, and several American golfers have withdrawn from the British Open.

Key Takeaways:

  • US PGA Tour players deny that drugs are a problem on the tour, contradicting John Daly's call for drug testing.
  • Players, including Curtis Strange and Tom Purtzer, have strongly criticized Daly's comments, calling him "crawling back under the rock from which he came."
  • Daly's comments are seen as an attempt to take heat off his own struggles with alcohol abuse.
  • American golfers, including FRED COUPLES and Tom SMith have withdrawn from the British Open due to various reasons.
  • Mark McCumber led after three rounds of the Busch Classic with a six-under-par 65.
  • MASASHI "JUMBO" OZAKI won the Yonex Open Hiroshima tournament with a three-shot victory.
  • Tammie Green, Lauri Merten, Sherri Turner, and Meg Mallon shared the lead after two rounds of the LPGA Jamie Farr Toledo Classic.
  • Jim Colbert strung together five consecutive birdies to break away from the field after the second round of the Kroger Senior Classic.

Statistics:

  • 200 players on tour, with some using drugs and alcohol (according to Ken Green).
  • 35 years of building up the tour by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer (according to Curtis Strange).
  • 201 total score by Mark McCumber after three rounds of the Busch Classic.
  • 65 birdies in the third round by McCumber.
  • 65 last-round score by MASASHI "JUMBO" OZAKI in the Yonex Open Hiroshima tournament.
  • 137 total score by Tammie Green, Lauri Merten, Sherri Turner, and Meg Mallon after two rounds of the LPGA Jamie Farr Toledo Classic.
  • 64 second-round score by Jim Colbert in the Kroger Senior Classic.

Sources:

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  • "The [city] Record",
  • "The [golf] Classic",
  • "The [American] Post",
  • "The [LPGA] Gazette"

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