Tour News

Oh deer: Singh withdraws in Phoenix

Published

13 years ago

Jan 31, 2013

Vijay Singh has withdrawn from the Waste Management Phoenix Open, one day after admitting to the use of deer antler spray, which contains a substance that is banned under the PGA Tour Anti-Doping policy.

Deer antler spray contains the chemical IGF-1, a natural anabolic hormone that stimulates muscle growth.

Singh was recently named in a Sports Illustrated report about a sports supplement company, Sports With Alternatives to Steroids, in which the company claims to have provided products for athletes including Singh and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. According to the story, Singh paid $9,000 for the deer antler spray and other products in November.

In the SI interview, Singh said he “used the spray every couple hours … every day.”

“While I have used deer antler spray, at no time was I aware that it may contain a substance that is banned under the PGA Tour Anti-Doping Policy,” Singh said in a statement Wednesday. “In fact, when I first received the product, I reviewed the list of ingredients and did not see any prohibited substances. I am absolutely shocked that deer antler spray may contain a banned substance and am angry that I have put myself in this position.”

Singh said that he has been in contact with the Tour about the matter and is fully cooperating. Tour Vice President Ty Votaw said the Tour is currently looking into the matter.

Click here for more discussion in the “Tour Talk” forum.

Related Topics:PGA Tour

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5 Comments

jho

Feb 1, 2013 at 12:57 pm

Wonder if Tiger was using this stuff a while back….maybe making him too “horny”? yes, pun intended.

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pablo

Jan 31, 2013 at 6:27 pm

Seriously: From NASCAR to NFL to MLB to PGA, anytime there is a motivation to excel and win, there will be motivation to enhance performance.

Not so Seriously: this quote from yesterday by Westwood 🙂

“Deer antler spray? It sounds like something you’d wax your car with,” Westwood told Bernie McGuire following the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“You just have to be very careful what you take and I try not to take anything now other than Corona and vodka, and not together.”

Reply Report comment
donald

Jan 31, 2013 at 5:51 pm

Vijay has been open and honest. However I have no doubt other players take banned substances. The PGA never seem to test these players. We all know who they are> In particular there is one player that has got bigger and bigger over the years and his face became more and more puffy….. I am sure his trainer even got caught with banned substances!!!!! Plan and simple cheating but it all comes down to money!!!!

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Troy Vayanos

Jan 31, 2013 at 2:23 pm

It’s good to see Vijay Singh’s honesty on the matter. It shows his remorse and acknowledgement of doing the wrong thing. He’s as honest as they come and have no doubt he would never take any substance to seek an advantage over his fellow golf professionals.

Hopefully the matter can be sorted and finalised with no penalty resulting.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

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.