Golf is one of the last sports where the use of performance-enhancing drugs is going to give you a major edge over the rest of the competition, but one former PGA Tour golfer has accused Tiger Woods of harnessing that approach at some point in his career.
Tiger Woods made a significant impact on the golfing world when he emerged in the latter half of the 1990s. One of the contributing factors to his success was his rigorous training routine, which enhanced his physical attributes such as strength, flexibility, and endurance. These qualities played a crucial role in establishing him as one of the most formidable individuals to have ever graced the golf course.
It’s clear that he wasn’t the first golfer to incorporate diet and exercise into his routine, but his choice to treat the game like a professional athlete was a groundbreaking move. This decision had a profound impact on the sport, as it inspired many other golfers to recognize the importance of adopting a similar approach in order to achieve a comparable level of performance.
Nevertheless, Mark Lye, a former PGA Tour player, appears to believe that Tiger received unauthorized assistance in solidifying his status as a legendary figure.
Lye entered the PGA Tour scene in 1977 and managed to secure victory in just one tournament before transitioning to a successful broadcasting career in 1995, a year prior to Woods’ debut as an amateur in professional tournaments.
In a recent episode of Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich, Lye was asked about rumors surrounding Woods’ alleged use of steroids during his career. Lye confidently stated that it’s a widely known fact, not a well-kept secret.
“People in Tiger’s corner [say] ‘You better shut up about it.’ Nobody’s ever gone out like that.
Nobody’s ever said that like I’m saying it right now. There’s just no doubt. And I would say about 80 or 90% of the people out there know something ain’t right.”
Renowned sports journalist Michael Bamberger has previously analyzed evidence that may indicate Woods used performance-enhancing drugs at some stage, although it is purely circumstantial.
He pointed out that the PGA Tour didn’t begin testing for steroids until 2008, over ten years after Tiger Woods turned pro. Even though his physical appearance changed significantly during that time, it’s quite a leap to claim that he couldn’t have achieved that transformation without using performance-enhancing drugs.
Given the complete absence of evidence, it becomes quite challenging to accept Lye’s assertion. However, it is likely that there will always exist a few individuals who remain skeptical.
Leave a Reply