Gary Player Refuses To Point Finger

eports that Gary Player has decided to hold back on naming the drug cheats that he had previously mentioned to the media.


“Gary Player insisted today that he would not expose two professional golfers who he claims told him they had used performance-enhancing drugs. The South African legend stirred controversy at the British Open in July when he claimed that two pros told him they had used human growth hormone. Several top golfers — including his countrymen, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen — quickly dismissed Player’s claims of drug abuse in golf, but the PGA Tour quickly announced that drug testing would begin in 2008.”

On Tuesday morning, Gary Player had an exclusive interview with Golf.com from Austin, Texas, saying that the two golfers in question had approached him for advice.


“They said, ‘We’d like to discuss this with you but would give us your solemn word that you will never discuss this with anybody?” the 72-year-old, nine-time major championship winner said. “And I said, ‘Yes, I give you my word.’ And they said, “Well, we tried these growth hormones. What do you think?’ And I said, ‘I think you shouldn’t [use them] in my opinion.’ I said, ‘It can only do you harm. Athletes are dying all around the world like flies. Don’t dare try any of this.’”

While his take on a possible scandal has been pushed aside by most golfers on the circuit, Player insists that it’s a legitimate concern: “I couldn’t imagine playing a tournament and having lost by one shot,” he stated, “knowing that that guy was on beta-blockers or human growth hormones to make him stronger.”

If golfing follows the paths of baseball and cycling, it will be a sad future for our beloved sport. For now, however, I’ll continue to have faith in the players and organizing body of professional golf.