Finchem Says Drug Testing Will Begin On Tour Next Year

Finchem Says Drug Testing Will Begin On PGA Tour Next Season

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem told the Tour’s 16-member Player Advisory Council during a teleconference Monday that performance-enhancing drug testing will begin in '08, according to Rex Hoggard of GOLFWEEK. Golf’s primary ruling bodies -- including Augusta National, the Royal & Ancient, USGA, PGA of America and the PGA European Tour -- have all “agreed to support the policy, making any sanctions levied as a result of a positive test enforced at all the game’s major championships.” What remains to be decided is whether players will be “tested randomly throughout the year or if the Tour would test entire fields at pre-determined events.” Also to be determined is whether players, in addition to performance-enhancing drugs, will be tested for substances like marijuana (GOLFWEEK, 9/1 issue).