Martin, Using Cart, Wins Nike Event
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LAKELAND, Fla. — Casey Martin drove his golf cart to victory Sunday, shooting a final-round three-under-par 69 to claim a one-shot victory in the Nike Tour’s season-opening Lakeland Classic.
Martin, who has a congenital leg disability that makes it hard for him to walk, is suing the PGA Tour under the Americans With Disabilities Act for the right to drive a cart in competition.
He was allowed to drive his cart in this Nike event and another tournament next week before a hearing on the issue is held in federal court in Oregon on Feb. 2.
The 25-year-old Stanford graduate finished the 72-hole event at 19 under par.
The victory, earned amid a swirl of attention about his cart, was a relief to Martin.
“A total weight has been lifted,” he said. “All the stuff about the court and all the talk about me playing in a cart, it weighs on you emotionally. Just to win is an amazing relief.”
Maybe not for the PGA Tour, in the process of building a vigorous defense to Martin’s court challenge.
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