Players to get break during 2008 playoffs
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The PGA Tour playoffs will take a two-week break next year to give players a chance to be fresh for the Ryder Cup, addressing a concern that American players would be worn out before one of the most tiresome weeks of the year.
The change was approved by the PGA Tour policy board.
"It probably helps us because our Ryder Cup team tends to have more players in the Tour Championship," U.S. captain Paul Azinger said Tuesday. "Their guys (Europe) could be over at Valhalla for a week while our guys are grinding for a fifth week in a row. It's not going to hurt us."
The first three playoff events for the FedEx Cup -- The Barclays, Deutsche Bank Championship and BMW Championship -- will be played consecutive weeks starting Aug. 21.
After the BMW Championship in St. Louis, the tour will have a week off from golf -- a rarity for September -- before the Ryder Cup is played Sept. 19-21 at Valhalla in Kentucky.
The Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta will be held the following week.
"We felt it was important to give those members of both the U.S. and European teams who will be competing in the playoffs the ability to prepare for the Ryder Cup while also focusing on the Tour Championship the following week," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said.
Drug testing next summer: The PGA Tour plans to start its new drug-testing program as early as July, with penalties for a positive test that could range from a one-year suspension for a first offense to a lifetime ban if a player is caught three times.
Leaders from golf's most influential organizations signed off last month on an anti-doping policy. The tour's plan was approved by its policy board.
Tim Finchem said players will receive a manual next month as part of an education program that will extend through June, with testing to follow.
The manual will contain a list of prohibited substances that fall under 10 categories, ranging from anabolic steroids to human growth hormones to narcotics to beta blockers.
Finchem said the tour can test players without notice anytime and anywhere, and testing at a PGA Tour event can occur before or after practice or competition. There was no limit to how many times a year a player can be tested. It was not clear if there would be any mandatory testing of players, such as the winner of a tournament.