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As though the forthcoming drug policy in golf isn't stringent enough on an individual level, any player found in violation of the new anti-doping measures at the Ryder Cup will have more than just personal shame to deal with.
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He could become a global, golfing goat.
Three days after European Tour brass confirmed players will be subject to testing at the matches Sept. 19-21 in Louisville, Ky., a senior PGA of America official said Thursday that the penalties for a positive test will be severe.
PGA of America communications director Julius Mason told CBSSports.com that, "if a player is found guilty of the policy prior to, or during, the Ryder Cup, then any points won would be taken away and the result of the match adjusted accordingly."
In the event of a close match, that could make the difference between winning and losing the cup.
European Tour commissioner George O'Grady said earlier this week in England that testing is definitely on the docket for the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship, which both are administered by the PGA of America.
"We will make this decision in conjunction with the PGA Tour for the PGA Championship and jointly with Ryder Cup Europe for the Ryder Cup, with the tests to be administered by Drug Free Sport, which is the administrator of the PGA Tour's program," Mason said. "We believe this helps achieve a consistency in the testing protocol for men's golf in America and allows the PGA of America to concentrate its full attention on the competition itself."
The PGA Championship, set for August outside Detroit, is poised to become the first major championship to screen players for banned substances. With the Ryder matches in America this year, the PGA is running the show at that event as well.
"They are the host running the match, and so within reason, there will be a discussion," O'Grady said earlier this week. "But it's ultimately the choice of the PGA of America."
The European and PGA tours are set to jointly implement standardized testing in July, with the U.S. circuit rolling out screening at the John Deere Classic the week before the British Open.
The PGA Tour is a separate entity from the PGA of America. Violations of the new tour protocol call for possible suspension, fines, disqualification and forfeiture of points or other awards.
Officials at the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, which administers the British Open, announced three weeks ago that they will pass on testing until the 2009 event.
