Wednesday, May 30, 2001
Players: Cart users will have advantage
Decision clouds how to rule future cases, they argue
The Associated Press
DUBLIN, Ohio — Now that Casey Martin has won the right to use a cart, some in the sport are worried golfers without disabilities might try to take advantage of the ruling.
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday a federal disability-bias law permits Martin, who has difficulty walking because of a congenital leg problem, to ride in a golf cart in PGA Tour events.
In the decision, the 7-2 majority opinion stated that walking was not a fundamental part of the sport.
“I think we ought to take them all out and play golf,” Jack Nicklaus said of the justices. “I think they'd change their minds. I promise you, it's fundamental.”
Hal Sutton, a member of the tour's policy board, said many pros have bad backs and now might apply to use a cart. Sutton himself has had back problems.
“In Casey's particular case, there's no doubt about his disability,” Sutton said before a practice round for this week's Memorial Tournament. “This is not about Casey Martin. It's about the possibilities it opens up. The next person's disabilities — it might not be as clear.
“I'm happy for Casey Martin,” Sutton said. “I'm disappointed that they didn't see that a golf cart is an added advantage.”
Said tour veteran Steve Pate: “Walking 6 miles a day six days a week is part of the deal. If you don't think we're a sport, then a part of my premise is gone. But I think we are.”
Jim Furyk said he sympathized with Martin's plight.
“I'm happy he gets to go ahead and fulfill his dream,” Furyk said. “I understood both sides of the story. I understood where the Tour was coming from and I understood Casey. If I was Casey, I would have done the exact same thing. I'm happy for him as a person.”
Frank Nobilo, a native of New Zealand, said there was no doubt the game is harder when a player has to walk.
“Any time you get to ride, you gain an advantage, don't you? I think you do,” Nobilo said. “It's the same reason they try to ban drugs in sports — because it gives an advantage.”
The U.S. Golf Association does not have to confront the Martin decision immediately, because Martin is not playing at the U.S. Open in Tulsa in two weeks.
“It's a concern as to who is going to make the rules and set them, and then how much leeway there is,” said Marty Parkes, USGA senior director of communication. “If somebody had entered sectional qualifying and then had sprained an ankle and then wanted to use a cart, I don't know what the answer is.
“Those are the things that we need to read the opinion. Is that considered an injury, or is that considered a temporary disability and they're given a golf cart?”
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Players: Cart users will have advantage
