Woods, Seeking `Pure' Sport, Alters Stance on Golf Drug Testing, By: Michael Buteau

August 25, 2006

Tiger Woods said professional golfers should be tested for performance-enhancing drugs as soon as possible, changing the stand he took eight months ago that the issue should be studied.

``I don't know when we could get that implemented,'' Woods, the world's top-ranked golfer, told reporters after yesterday's opening round of the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio. ``Tomorrow would be fine with me.''

His comments came a day after U.S. PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem reiterated that there's no need for drug testing without evidence that players are using steroids.

Woods, 30, said he doesn't think anybody is using steroids, but said golf should be ``proactive instead of reactive,'' according to a transcript of his remarks.

``We should be ahead of it and keep our sport as pure as can be,'' he said. ``This is a great sport and it's always been clean.''

In December, Woods, whose 12 major golf titles rank second behind Jack Nicklaus's 18, said the matter needed to be studied ``a little more before we get into something like that.''

``Obviously there is a lot to it than just, OK, there's mandatory testing,'' Woods told reporters during a December press conference before his Target World Challenge event. ``Where does it start? Who is in control if it? What are the substances that you are looking for? In the Olympics you can't take aspirin. A lot of guys live on aspirin out here.''

Drug testing will be conducted at the World Amateur Championships in October in Stellenbosch, South Africa, a first for the event. Results won't be announced.