PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — In the wake of a bold and somewhat flimsy claim by a journeyman professional golfer who said Tiger Woods is serving a secret suspension, Woods’ representative and the PGA Tour issued strong denials on Monday.
Dan Olsen, who last played on tour at the 2011 PGA Championship and played only one full season on the PGA Tour (2004), told 730AM The Game in Lansing, Mich., on Friday: “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 then backed off Monday, telling ESPN.com the claim “was only my opinion.”
“It’s not testosterone, but it’s something else,” Olsen had told the radio station. “I think when it’s all said and done, he’s gonna surpass Lance Armstrong with infamy.”
Ty Votaw, the executive vice president of the PGA Tour, vehemently denied the claims: “There is no truth whatsoever to these claims. We categorically deny these allegations.”
The Votaw statement was significant because the PGA never comments publicly on disciplinary matters, as was the case when Dustin Johnson took six months away from the game, returning only a few weeks ago, after reportedly failing a test for cocaine.
If Woods failed a test for performance-enhancing drugs, the PGA Tour said it is required to announce a suspension. If he failed a test for a recreational substance, the tour’s policy is not to disclose any penalties.
Woods’ agent and mouthpiece, Mark Steinberg, issued this statement Monday: “These claims are absolutely, unequivocally and completely false. They are unsourced, unverified and completely ridiculous. The PGA Tour has confirmed that there is no truth to these claims.”
Olsen rapidly backpedaled on Monday.
“Everything I said on that radio interview was only my opinion and not based on any firsthand knowledge or facts,” Olsen told ESPN.com. “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.”
On Feb. 11, Woods stated he was taking a break from competition to fix his ailing game, which he said he not suitable for tournament play. There is heavy speculation he will return at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Invitational in two weeks. He has won the event seven times and traditionally uses it as a warmup for the Masters.
Woods, however, has not made any public comments or commitment about his plan — even to play the Masters next month.
During the past year, Woods has withdrawn with an injury three times and has fallen outside of the top 70 in the world rankings. He skipped last week’s Honda Classic, an event he usually plays, and is not even qualified to play this week at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral because only the top 50 players are eligible.
Olsen even accused Woods of using a “cheater’’ ball given to him by Nike but not sanctioned for tournament play, saying, “I would almost bet [the ball] hadn’t been tested.”
Nike issued a statement Monday denying Olsen’s claims, saying: “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.’’
Olsen’s best finish on the PGA Tour was a tie for 12th at Tucson in 2004, one of only eight cuts that he made in 31 starts that season. He played the Web.com Tour in 2006, finishing with two top-10s in 27 events.
He made himself more famous with one radio interview than for anything he ever did on the golf course.