The Golf Blog: Is it time for PED testing at British Open and golf?
The Golf Blog says: Seeing players such as Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson bomb nearly 400 yard drives during the British Open Championship raises questions not only about the equipment and ball players are using, but the possibility of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). McIlroy reportedly is averaging 350 yards off the tee this week. Yes, 350 yards average. (Golf Channel said it was 323 yards, but still.)
Of course, part of the distance is created by hardpan roll at Royal Liverpool, but the wind hasn’t been that helpful. In 2013, McIlroy said he didn’t think the pro tour had a problem with PEDs and admitted that he had never been tested at a tournament.
This is not to single out McIlroy, Johnson, or any of the other golfers on the leader board, much less to suggest that anyone is actually using PEDs. But the distances that some of the top players can hit does raise a legitimate question about the level of PED testing at the majors and other tour events. The incredible distances pro tour players are hitting it today is reminiscent of the home run derby we saw in baseball with Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds. It was fun while it lasted but, deep down, we all knew it was too good to be true. We hope professional golf is clean. But we’ve seen it too many times in other sports (remember Lance Armstrong, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Ryan Braun, Tyson Gay, Justin Gatlin) to be blind to the possibility. It would help the integrity of the game if testing for PEDs is made to be a standard feature of every tournament.
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