Golf begrudgingly joined the new world of sport Thursday when leaders from its most influential organizations signed off on an anti-doping policy with hopes of proving its players are clean.
Drug testing could begin as early as next spring, although details such as when to test and penalties are being worked out.
“But for the problems in other sports, I doubt we would be at this point,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said. “We are where we are given the way of the world.”
It was a universal effort from the PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour, U.S. Golf Association, Royal & Ancient Golf Club, Augusta National Golf Club and the PGA of America, meaning the policy ultimately would cover golf at the highest level all over the world, including the four major championships.
Drug testing at the Masters likely would not start next year. Augusta National executive director Jim Armstrong said the Masters would watch what the other tours do before deciding how to proceed.
Finchem said the other major golf tours, such as South Africa and Japan, have signed off on the list of banned substances and have agreed to go along with the second phase of the policy, which will include medical waivers, testing, punishment and making sure anyone caught cheating on one tour would face penalties on all of them.
Officials released a list of 10 classes of drugs that will be banned, ranging from anabolic steroids to hormones to narcotics to beta blockers.
PGA: Jeff Gove and Chad Campbell shot 7-under-par 65s to tie for the first-round lead at the Turning Stone Resort Championship in Verona, N.Y.
Gove and Campbell, who finished one stroke off the Atunyote Golf Club course record, were one shot ahead of Steve Flesch, John Senden, Matthew Goggin and Brendon de Jonge.
John Daly, coughing and apparently ailing, withdrew after seven holes, complaining he was ill with the flu.
PGA European Tour: Martin Erlandsson shot a 9-under 63 to take a two-stroke, first- round lead over Jarmo Sandelin and Richard Sterne at the British Masters in Sutton Coldfield, England.
