I am not a golfer and it is one of the sports that I least enjoy watching. However, it does occasionally supply an interesting legal controversy. Pro golfer Dustin Johnson this week is taking a leave of absence from the PGA tour (the Washington Post is calling it a suspension). The reason is intriguing. He failed three drug tests and allegedly has been sleeping with the wives of other players. The drug tests however were reportedly for marijuana and cocaine. Since those are not performance enhancing drugs, I do not understand why the PGA even tests for them or why Johnson being a cad is an issue for the PGA.
Johnson failed three drug tests in the past five years, including a positive test for marijuana in 2009 and two positive tests for cocaine in 2012 and 2014. However, I know of no study showing that such drugs give him an advantage on the course. Moreover, he does not play for a team where his conduct has a material impact on teammates. Golf is a singular pursuit of athletes. Likewise, why does it matter that Johnson “had a sexual indiscretion with at least one wife of a PGA Tour player.” Isn’t that a matter between Johnson and the married couple?
I do not understand why golfers are treated as representing the PGA, which is just the umbrella organization for these games.
Johnson, 30, will miss the PGA Championship this coming weekend. That will honestly have no impact on me since I would rather drink molten lead than watch the PGA Championship. However, I remain confused as to why these particular acts are material in whether he will appear.
Source: Washington Post
Good call Bruce! I often lament about now having more money. I’m old enough to know now that I don’t make positive life choices all the time, so I don’t know. Hopefully I would never do that, but I guess you don’t know until you’re there…
What may have made this guy attractive to the wives was the cocaine.
This raises the same question I have asked regarding the “inadequate” suspension of Ray Rice. Why is marital behavior a matter for NFL discipline?
Laser, I usually don’t miss Gumbel’s HBO show nut missed the one on the PGA. There is much more philandering in sports than hits the news. It happens in baseball all the time. Back in the 70’s, Yankee’s pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson swapped wives. That hit the news. Ryne Sandberg’s wife was banging several Cub teammates. Recently, Prince Fielder’s wife was having coitus w/ a journeyman teammate[ouch]. The teammate was quickly traded when a fight broke out in the clubhouse, and after the season Prince was traded to Texas. He got divorced and now is having back surgery. Tough year! There’s a lotta testosterone in these sports and a lotta hot women. But, as you said, NOBODY had a more beautiful wife than Tiger. And, she seems classy and has moved on. Good for her. Karma has been Tiger’s downfall. He may be done w/ these back issues. He was rumored to use steroids.
Cocaine is gods way of letting you know you have too much money
I’m curious what the secret issue is that made this guy so attractive
to the wives!
Concur Nick.
Did you see Bryant Gumble’s recent notes on PGA losing ground;
and that sweet soccer sized cup (to make the game more enjoyable)?
My point is – publicity about philandering serves the game well;
as Rory’s greatness is no where near as endearing as Tiger’s was.
I’m just sayin…….
The Armstrong syndrome has to do with performance, this case has to do with partying.
Laser, The PGA is full of themselves and sanctimonious. But PGA golfers are the most honorable in professional sport. That counts for something, w/ me anyway.
Paul, I think he’s honorable on a personal level. I think he’s a good person, a good father. He may have a wandering eye however. The Secret Service have been known to say that he, Michelle, the girls, and their grandma are all very nice to them. That tells me I think he’s honorable as a man, but not as a politician. That’s in large part how I got snookered in 2008. Clinton of course has not an ounce of honor. And, the Secret Service HATE Hillary.
Nick – considering that Obama lies his head off and has spent literally millions of dollars to protect his records, I cannot see that he could not be hiding something he does not want us to see. This is not the act(s) of an honorable man.
Nick – the Olympics considers marijuana a performance enhancing drug.
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-08/fyi-why-cannabis-olympic-banned-substances-list
The PGA is too full of itself — There’s NO such thing as bad publicity;
there’s ONLY Publicity!
If you want to learn a lot about a person, play a round of golf. That’s why many people do business on the course.
I am not a golfer although I understand the game, working @ a country club as a kid. Paul, golf is a game of honor. While cheating in baseball[stealing signs, spitball, etc.] is part of the lore, “fudging” on a score, moving a ball, doing ANYTHING cheating is taboo. Now, I know when guys are out playing a round there are cheaters. I caddied and saw it. But, there is more honor than you might think. Well, I’m going back to the 60’s so that may have all changed. That said, a PGA players is expected to be above reproach. There is no tolerance for any “fudging.” It is the most honorable sport out there. Bill Clinton is a notorious cheater on the course. I’ve never read anything about Obama’s demeanor but I would expect he’s honorable.
Nick – what is there about Obama’s personality that makes you think he is an ‘honorable’ golfer?
JT stated: Since those are not performance enhancing drugs, I do not understand why the PGA even tests for them or why Johnson being a cad is an issue for the PGA.
The only golf guy that got ripped & big. Working out in a gym, weight lifting you get ripped. Adding performance enhancing drugs, you get ripped & you get BIG.
Tiger Woods spent $200K on treatments from HGH guru Anthony Galea and an associate, according to a new book.
Tiger Woods paid Canadian human growth hormone guru Anthony Galea and an associate almost $200,000 for 63 visits to the golfer’s home between September of 2008 and October of 2009,
according to a recently released book that raises new questions about the drugs and treatment the Toronto sports physician provided the four-time Masters champion.
When you are a money making machine for the PGA and Nike, etc, there’s some wiggle room. Woods was worth about $800 million before the wife cheating scandal and divorce.
Terry – guilt by association is always a great way to bring down a career.
It’s nobody’s business but his. If it negatively affects his game, it’s his fault.
Plus plenty of corporate PGA sponsors have shady schemes anyway (Nike sweatshops, etc.); yet the PGA seems a-ok with that $$$.
Dave – drug users affect those around them. it is the problem of all the golfers. If his moral compass is letting him do drugs it is probably letting him fudge his scores, etc. Drugs are not a victimless crime. People probably died to import that product into the United States. He stands to gain by every drug death in Mexico and the United States. His drug use is the cause for some of the trouble on our southern border.
Drugs are bad. He needs a rehab not a golf tournament.
He needs help and the PGA told him so.
Since both marijuana and cocaine are illegal substances, I think that is their claim to suspend him. They would probably suspend him if they found he was robbing banks.
If in fact this is a suspension it more than a little bizarre. I suspect that if the PGA suspended every golfer that had used marijuana or had an indiscretion with another player’s wife the PGA might have trouble fielding a tournament. My guess is there is something beneath the covers (no pun intended) that we do not know.
It is society ‘s way of discouraging bad behavior. This will go on Johnson ‘s permanent record! If the PGA did nothing, then what will the press do? Every interview would be about Johnson, or whatever little cheating wife he ‘s doing. The game would be lost in his shenanigans. Then, other golfers would do the same type of stuff to boost their own PR Quotient.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Maybe he has a long Putz??????