John Daly blasts PGA, says its drug tests are not random
John Daly is better known for his colorful pants than quality golf these days, but that isn’t stopping the two-time major winner from being brutally honest on his thoughts about how the PGA conducts its drug-testing program.
While speaking on his SiriusXM radio show Tuesday night, Daly blasted the PGA on its drug-testing policy, saying the association does not conduct random drug testing.
“This’ll be the fifth or sixth year in a row I’m going to get drug tested [at this event],” said Daly, who is set to play the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla., this week. “It’s not random; it’s big a joke. This whole drug testing is a joke.”
Daly, 48, also hinted that the PGA may be unfairly targeting him when it comes to drug testing. Daly has admitted to being an alcoholic in the past, but said in 2014 that he had been sober for six years.
“I’m pissed ‘cause I know I’m going to get drug tested no matter where I go,” he said.
Daly, who said he didn’t care if the PGA fined him for his comments, then called out PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and Andy Pazder, the tour’s chief of operations.
“Andy Pazder, if you listen to this show, you and Tim Finchem get off your ass and get it right,” Daly said. “You know, I’m tired of it. Because it has to be random ...”
“I know when I’m getting drug tested,” he said. “That’s sad.”
The PGA implemented drug testing in July 2008 and issued its first drug-testing suspension to Doug Barron in 2009 after conducting what it described as a random drug test. The policy allows for testing both at and away from tournament sites.
Daly isn’t the first golfer to poke holes in the PGA program. In 2013, Rory McIlroy told the New York Times that he had never been tested outside a tournament for drugs. Other golfers have said in the past that there have been limits to the scope of the tour’s drug-testing policy.
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