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Vijay Singh saga shows golf needs to send message over drugs - Derek Lawrenson

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Complacency is the enemy within that lurks in every sport. In golf it takes the form of an attitude towards drug taking that snuggles up alarmingly close to apathy.

How many times do we hear the mantra: where are the drugs that will help make you a better golfer? Through the generations when the model for the perfect golf swing was based around balance and tempo, the dismissiveness was understandable.

Can the same be said today? Now, when virtually every player in the world’s top 50 has embraced the culture of the gym and body shapes are changing before our eyes in search of more swing speed, the mantra smacks not only of naivety but foolishness.

Pleading ignorance: Vijay Singh confessed to using a spray containing a banned substance

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And so we come to the unfortunate case of Vijay Singh, who went in search of muscle growth and an aid to recovery from his many injuries and stumbled upon a spray that appears to contain IGF-1, a banned performance-enhancing drug.

Leave aside the bleakly comic aspect of it being known as deer antler spray and Singh’s comments owning up to using it that were so damning they were his best defence in his abject plea that he acted in ignorance.

This was ignorance on an industrial scale. The US Tour have been sending out warnings for two years that players should not use the spray.

Still complacency raises its ugly head. Tom Pernice, a former member of the US Tour policy board, thinks Singh should be let off with a warning. In Dubai last week, Mark O’Meara thought a two-month suspension would be about right.

Assuming that deer antler spray really does contain IGF-1 — the US Tour will complete their testing this week — what ought to happen next is neither of those things. Both would send out completely the wrong message.

The game desperately needs to be brought to its senses on drugs and the US Tour have it within their scope to set a precedent and an example. They have to apply at least a one-year suspension.Sad for the sport, yes, and sad for Singh too, for the story of the man who came from Fiji of all places and won three majors is one of golf’s best.

But it’s time to get serious. Time to end the complacency.

Quote of the week

‘Golf takes too long to play. Five hour-plus rounds are incompatible with life in modern society, where there are many alternative sports and forms of entertainment.’

Fine words by Glen Nager, president of the US Golf Association but, as ever, what’s the betting it will be followed by weasel-like actions? Will fields be cut to a maximum of 120 players? Will one-stroke penalties be applied to persistent slow play culprits? Apply those two things and you would cut 60 minutes off rounds but will it happen? Not a chance.

Dubai needs star power

Once the crown jewel of the Middle East swing, it was sad to see the Dubai Desert Classic short on star power last week and, as a consequence, short on spectators. Happily, the word is they will put  that right next year for the tournament’s 25th anniversary.

I understand negotiations with team Tiger are close to a successful conclusion, while there’s every hope they will entice Rory McIlroy  as well, since their objective is to attract every former champion. 

Clearly the appearance fees they saved this time will be spent on  a mammoth splurge next year.

Sky's the limit: The Dubai Desert Classic organisers are hoping to tempt Rory and Tiger to play next year

So close! Phil Mickelson watches his birdie putt roll towards the cup... but the ball somehow stayed out

Ever-popular Phil still thrills in 60s

Like Arnold Palmer before him, Phil Mickelson is going to have people following him around at places like the Masters when he is deep into his dotage.

They’re going to remember the great entertainer of his generation, the legend of Phil the thrill and the shots he produced that left them open-mouthed. In short, they’re going to remember weeks like the one just past, and victory No 41 on the US Tour in the Phoenix Open.

If you haven’t seen it yet, do watch the video of Mickelson’s bid for a first-round 59 with a putt that horseshoed round the hole - CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE AMAZING CLIP.

All the drama of sport, let alone golf, is contained in Mickelson’s reaction and that of his long-time caddie ‘Bones’ Mackay, spread-eagled on the green in disbelief.

If you want to know just why Mickelson is so popular, the clue is right there. Combine that with his willingness to sign autographs all hours God sends and the sort of immaculate sportsmanship we saw in defeat by Justin Rose at the Ryder Cup, and no wonder so many of us were glad to see him put a poor year behind him with four rounds in the 60s to return to the world’s top 10 where he belongs.

A week that began on  Monday with victory for Tiger  Woods had ended with one for Phil. Talk about seven days to remember for American golf.

  More... VIDEO: Caddy race at Phoenix Open cranks up the volume at loudest hole in golf Mickelson back in world's top 10 after second lowest score ever on the PGA Tour Eight years of pain for Gallacher ended with stunning Dubai triumph over Sterne VIDEO: Mickelson 'mortified' after birdie putt for magical 59 horseshoes out




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