News

Tiger suspended? “Whistleblower” retracts, apologizes

Published

11 years ago

Mar 2, 2015

In a radio-station interview on Friday, journeyman golf pro Dan Olsen said that Tiger Woods is serving a one-month suspension from the PGA Tour — a claim that the PGA Tour denied on Monday.

“There is no truth whatsoever to these claims,” said Ty Votaw, the executive vice president of the PGA Tour. “We categorically deny these allegations.”

Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg denied the claims as well.

[quote_box_center]”These claims are absolutely, unequivocally and completely false,” Steinberg said in a statement on Monday. “They are unsourced, unverified and completely ridiculous. The PGA Tour has confirmed that there is no truth to these claims.”[/quote_box_center]

On Friday, Olsen told 730AM The Game in Lansing, Mich., that “I heard he’s on a month’s suspension … it’s kind of a strong witness. It’s a credible person who is telling me this.”

Olsen retracted his statement on Monday.

[quote_box_center]”Everything I said on that radio interview was only my opinion and not based on any first-hand knowledge or facts,” Olsen told ESPN.com on Monday. “I want to make a full retraction to everything I said for the entire radio interview. And I apologize to Tiger, Nike, Phil (Mickelson), (commissioner) Tim Finchem and the PGA Tour.”[/quote_box_center]

Although he recanted his claims and apologized, Olsen, the 48-year old who’s made nine cuts on the PGA Tour throughout his career and hasn’t played on Tour since the 2011 PGA Championship, made strong allegations on Friday that would assuredly tarnish Woods’ career achievements if true.

[quote_box_center]“It’s not testosterone, but it’s something else,” Olsen said. “I think when it’s all said and done, he’s gonna surpass Lance Armstrong with infamy … They’re not even going to remember the women. The women are going to take a distant second place. You’re gonna talk about him with Lance Armstrong.”[/quote_box_center]

PGA Tour policy says that it will announce suspensions for performance enhancing drugs, which it did recently, but not for recreational drugs.

Olsen also claimed the Nike golf ball that Woods used in competition is not conforming.

[quote_box_center]”I would almost bet [the ball] hadn’t been tested,” he said. “So he’s really playing with — I’m not gonna say a cheater ball, because he has the help of the establishment, really — but he played a ball that nobody else could play.” [/quote_box_center]

Nike Golf disputed those claims on Monday, as well.

[quote_box_center]”Every ball Tiger has put in competitive play from Nike has been thoroughly tested and approved by the USGA and R&A in accordance with their governing rules,” the company said in a statement.[/quote_box_center]

On Monday, Olsen also spoke about his own public perception moving forward.

“I’ll be looked at as just some crazy (expletive) nobody making accusations about Tiger,” Olsen said.

The PGA Tour, Woods’ agent and Nike have not publicly disputed that specific claim.

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

35 Comments

THONG

Mar 9, 2015 at 10:57 am

Golf is now officially stupid!

Reply Report comment
Russell Platt

Mar 6, 2015 at 6:20 pm

Why did Olsen retract the statement, because he was probably threatened by the PGA that he would be banned from the senior tournament if he didn’t. If you think someone of Tiger’s character wouldn’t use HGH, what planet are you from? Really!!

Reply Report comment
- Geoffrey Holland
  
  Mar 9, 2015 at 4:44 pm
  
  He’d have to have the game to qualify for the Senior Tour, and that’s highly unlikely.
  
  Reply Report comment
BustyMagoo

Mar 4, 2015 at 7:58 pm

To bad Tiger can’t sue the pants of that guy. The stuff that might turn up on Tiger during the trial might be too risky. Maybe he should just walk away and go into seclusion. It seems like he’s about to have a fall from grace, David Duval style. And I’m a fan of El Tigre. I’d like to see nothing more than for him to get back into form but his body seems wrecked. I wonder if young guys like McElroy will learn from Tigers mistakes in fitness, swing changes, etc.?

Reply Report comment
Ponjo

Mar 3, 2015 at 1:08 pm

I would think that Tiger and his team will sue the backside off Olsen now. If they don’t will only add fuel to the fire

Reply Report comment
- Robeli
  
  Mar 3, 2015 at 1:28 pm
  
  Tiger will not sue – it will be the perfect opportunity to open Pandora’s box! Tiger AND PGA do not want that.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Fsubaseball21
    
    Mar 3, 2015 at 3:19 pm
    
    Some of you are spot on. A lawsuit opens all parties up to discovery and I can think of at least one person who would crumble in a deposition. It is a shame to watch guys that get off HGH. Their bodies just straight up fall apart.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Fred
    
    Mar 5, 2015 at 12:52 pm
    
    If Tiger’s camp were to go to sue, which it won’t, Olsen would be the defendant – the person on trial – not Tiger. Tiger would have no need to defend himself against Olsen’s admittedly falls allegations. Olsen has already stated that everything he said was BS, and only his opinion, and that there was/is no proof to back up the claims of the individual he got the info from. Very strange and stupid mistake on Olsen’s part. If no one had heard of him before, they sure as hell know who he is now. His life as he knew it before is over.
    
    Reply Report comment
Robeli

Mar 3, 2015 at 11:01 am

Within 2 years, then all of Tiger Woods will be revealed and he and Lance Armstrong will be mentioned in the same breath. Mark my words.

Reply Report comment
- Yoda
  
  Mar 6, 2015 at 6:58 pm
  
  Rory and Lee Westwood have had similar transformations.
  
  Reply Report comment
Mike

Mar 3, 2015 at 6:39 am

I doubt the PGA wants to know the extent that performance enhancing drugs are being used by tour players. The truth would’t be good for public relations…i.e., Tour de France. Just look at pictures of PGA golfers while in school and then notice how fast they bulk up once on tour. Building muscle that fast just isn’t natural….

Reply Report comment
Sargio_Gercia

Mar 3, 2015 at 6:29 am

They’ll be saying the moon landing was fake soon… Sonuva…

Reply Report comment
Joe Golfer

Mar 3, 2015 at 3:34 am

Woods turned to a solid core ball while others were using wound balls, which covers the ball controversy.
Personally, I suspect that Woods did use HGH during his peak years, but if the PGA honchos admitted that they knew, they’d have a lot of explaining to do.
He had access to any top physician he wanted, and he chose Dr. Anthony Galea, a Canadian physician known for dispensing PED’s to professional athletes. After Galea’s trial, he was banned from practicing within the USA.
So of all the physicians in the world, why would Tiger choose to seek out treatment from the one doctor notoriously known for supplying illegal performance drug enhancement to athletes?
Woods used to show off his physique while wearing those taut-fitting mock turtleneck shirts. He spoke of training with Navy Seals (allegedly how he first injured his knee). He routinely outdrove his opponents by a long distance. He doesn’t look like that now.
I don’t think Woods has used anything for the past few years, since testing and media scrutiny have become more prevalent.
I think Woods would still have been the best golfer of his ear by far. I just don’t think he would have been quite as good as he was.

Reply Report comment
- Brandon
  
  Mar 3, 2015 at 10:37 am
  
  HGH? Wow, as much as I love the game of golf, when you guys with no knowledge of gaining muscle and a balanced physique see a guy that keeps himself in shape, you automatically scream steroids or HGH. Tiger’s physique is easily attainable with hard work and a correct diet. Everyone talks about him as if he is Ronnie Coleman or Arnold. He is NOT bulky, he has a balanced physique. But I guess when you look at him compared to John Daly or the skinny guys who don’t take care of themselves, he looks like a roid user? Hilarious. Get in the gym and get off the WRX comment section, you lazy excuse for an athlete.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Joe Golfer
    
    Mar 3, 2015 at 7:35 pm
    
    Hey Brandon, thanks for using logic to make your statements, and also the insulting tone of your final comment.
    There will never be positive proof that he did or did not use HGH or anything else.
    I don’t know, but there probably weren’t any drug tests for HGH even taken back then as far as the PGA Tour goes?
    I mentioned HGH as opposed to steroids because he looked very cut as opposed to bulky, and specifically because Tiger used Dr. Galea..
    Dr. Galea, a physician who was well known even prior to Tiger, as Dr. Galea often used HGH with his patients and had already treated other pro athletes. There’s a good reason why Dr. Galea is banned from practicing within the United States after his legal trial ended badly for him.
    While we can’t prove that Tiger used, we can prove that Galea was dispensing it.
    It just seems odd that one would seek out the exact physician known for that, even if he was a PRP proponent, which Tiger used on his knee. Tiger could have used a different physician with a better reputation.
    No one is saying that Tiger didn’t work out extremely hard to earn that physique.
    It’s simply my opinion that he had a little help getting into that peak physical condition.
    We’re all entitled to an opinion, and one doesn’t need to resort to name calling to express it.
    Galea’s reputation preceded him.
    It’s a red flag, one that most athletes would choose to avoid, picking a different physician. Tiger could have gotten top notch treatment via Stanford, where he attended college, or Johns Hopkins or Mayo Clinic or any number of places.
    I wasn’t referring to the current status of Tiger.
    I was referring to the years when he was really ripped, so to speak, as far as fitness is concerned.
    Yes, you are correct that Tiger works very hard.
    You may note that I considered Tiger the best of his era. I mean that.
    I am not a Tiger hater.
    My opinion, and it is simply an opinion, is that all the circumstantial evidence would lead one to be suspicious.
    It is a shame that that other golfer went on the radio and spouted things that he couldn’t prove positively.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - marcel
    
    Mar 5, 2015 at 5:15 pm
    
    Brandon you are mostly right – tiger’s physique is nothing too much – but here it is where you are wrong. same body shape can be achieved by weekend body builder on ‘roids vs similar shape of crossFit guy. now when you compare intensity of training of of these two and recovery times. in early ’20 of age recovery is easy… in your ’30 is harder and closer to your ’40 its nearly impossible to recover over night. Tiger however is an athlete and his swing could prove it that there is lots of hard work behind it (not just show off) and here comes the question of recovery time. Look at Greg Norman – considered a choker – i dont this he was – i really believe his body could not get going 4 days.
    I am avid golfer that exercises a lot, 36yo. y’day i have done 200 kettlebell swings 12kg, 100 squats w 20kg and 100 push ups on rings… do i feel pain this morning – yes i do. would i be able to play right now… i dont think i could be comfortable on the golf course right now.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Regis
    
    Mar 5, 2015 at 8:30 pm
    
    Physique is exactly like A-Rods. Just Saying
    
    Reply Report comment
Scooter McGavin

Mar 2, 2015 at 11:23 pm

So a nobody golf pro goes on the radio spouting a bunch of ridiculous stuff, later says he didn’t mean it and all but confesses to lying about the whole thing, and the media, including GolfWRX decides to give both him and the drivel he expelled legitimacy by writing articles about it? Are you serious?

Reply Report comment
- Tony
  
  Mar 3, 2015 at 5:47 am
  
  If you don’t want to hear about current events, factual or rumour, you can always turn off your TV, computer and radio.
  
  Let the rest of us hear information and make a decision ourselves as to whether it’s real or not
  
  Reply Report comment
  - MLH
    
    Mar 3, 2015 at 7:06 am
    
    What is there to make a decision on? And you’re missing the point, which is the “story” shouldn’t have made the cut because it was fabricated. Without facts there is nothing and only fools make decisions using data that has no content or substance. Get real.
    
    Reply Report comment
adam

Mar 2, 2015 at 10:19 pm

Excessive secrecy on the part of the PGA will breed these sorts of rumors/suspicions. The DJ case illustrative. The fact that they possibly hid the truth about DJ makes every future whisper potentially credible.

I don’t believe Tiger had a failed drug test. If he did, then the bad back act at Torrey Pines was truly Oscar worthy. As to the nonconforming ball, that’s a real hoot. A spectator will come into possession of the ball the first time he hits it OB, or a grounds crew member will fish one out of the water, and then the jig will be up. No way, no how.

Reply Report comment
Steve

Mar 2, 2015 at 7:52 pm

If don’t think tiger juiced, then you are naive. But he is to big to be taken to the wood shed. The game needs him. Maybe when Tiger is no use any more the real truth will come out.

Reply Report comment
- Kyle
  
  Mar 2, 2015 at 8:29 pm
  
  I don’t think he juiced. What proof is there? What motive is there? There’s a reason golfers don’t juice. It’s not going to help your swing.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - BigBoy
    
    Mar 2, 2015 at 8:43 pm
    
    Juice is not only for getting bigger, it can be used for quicker recovery for injury.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - rgb
      
      Mar 2, 2015 at 10:31 pm
      
      Well that’s sure not working then.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - J.R.
        
        Mar 3, 2015 at 2:07 am
        
        It’s not referring to Tiger’s current physical status, now that the tour actually does test for PED’s. It’s been suspected for a long time that Tiger used Human Growth Hormone (HGH) during his peak years, back when he routinely outdrove almost everyone on tour. You may recall how buff he looked back in the days when he wore those tight fitting mock turtleneck shirts, trained with Navy Seals, etc. Tiger used the Canadian doctor, Dr. Anthony Galea, who is well known for supplying PED’s, and has even since been banned from any practice within the United States. He’d been known to supply for other athletes (mostly baseball).
        HGH doesn’t just give you stronger muscle. It helps with endurance, reflexes, etc., anything that keeps one in top physical condition.
        Of all the doctors in the world that Tiger could have used, why else would he have regularly sought treatment from a specific PED pushing physician in Canada, nowhere near his home in Florida? Dr. Galea’s reputation was well known, and that’s why he was sought out. Tiger likely did use HGH back then, but it would be damaging to the PGA Tour honchos if it were to come out that they turned a blind eye to the issue.
        As for the “golf ball” issue, that’s likely a load of bunk.
        Tiger switched to a solid core ball long before other pros did. Their wound balls simply weren’t as consistent.
        All that said, this journeyman golfer is likely correct about his self assessment after his comments about a suspension were revealed to be false.
        
        Reply Report comment
CW

Mar 2, 2015 at 7:09 pm

Now if the media would just stop giving hearsay claims attention and do their job verifying facts, we wouldn’t have these issues.

Reply Report comment
- Birdeez
  
  Mar 2, 2015 at 9:04 pm
  
  Thank you for saying what I’ve been thinking. Media is worst today. The fact any media outlet gave this any attention shows how low they’ll stoop to gain ratings over verifying facts and making sure a story is credible.
  
  Reply Report comment
rgb

Mar 2, 2015 at 7:01 pm

““I’ll be looked at as just some crazy (expletive) nobody making accusations about Tiger,” Olsen said.”

Well, he got that right.

Reply Report comment
Tom Duckworth

Mar 2, 2015 at 5:27 pm

What a low life anybody that wants some attention or to make some kind of name for themselves
just has to attack Tiger Woods. I’m not his biggest fan but I get sick of these people.

Reply Report comment
graymulligan

Mar 2, 2015 at 4:11 pm

Every time I read something like this, I think it’s too crazy, and that it’s nonsense.

And then I remember Jose Canseco’s book…and Lance’s denials…and on, and on, and on. I realize I have no idea what’s true and what isn’t anymore.

Reply Report comment
- RG
  
  Mar 2, 2015 at 4:17 pm
  
  My thoughts exactly, only I think if your going to make allegations like these you had better be able to back it up.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - 1badbadger
    
    Mar 6, 2015 at 11:22 pm
    
    I know several Tour players, and over the years they have told me stories (not related to this particular incident) about life on Tour that would make your jaw drop. Some were funny, some were shocking, but it was stuff that never made it into the news. Some stories involved very prominent players, and was either witnessed first hand or came from sources who witnessed it. I believe these stories, but I would have no way to back them up with any kind of proof, but things happen that most people don’t hear about.
    
    Reply Report comment
- cody
  
  Mar 2, 2015 at 6:05 pm
  
  i completely agree. i dont see how in golf you could be compared to Lance but, who really knows anymore. Anything is possible. The PGA covered up D johnson drug rehab.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Snowman2134
    
    Mar 2, 2015 at 7:48 pm
    
    What proof do you have? I would love to see where DJ’s drug issues were substantiated outside of tabloid journalist on social media. Mr. Johnson made clear his issues with alcohol, and stated his intention to modify his behavior through treatment. Please enlighten us with your irrefutable evidence of DJ’s cocaine issue
    
    Reply Report comment

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Scottie Scheffler leads the betting ahead of the second major championship of the year, with the World Number One a +345 favorite to get his hands on a second PGA Championship.

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Here is the full betting board for the 2026 PGA Championship courtesy of DraftKings.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

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GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.