Opinion & Analysis
Singh’s case against the Tour will be hard to win
On Wednesday, Vijay Singh filed suit against the PGA Tour over his use of deer antler spray claiming he was subjected to “public humiliation and ridicule for months.” In a press release his lawyer stated:
“Singh seeks damages for the PGA Tour’s reckless administration and implementation of its Anti-Doping Program. After exposing Singh, one of the PGA Tour’s most respected and hardest working golfers, to public humiliation and ridicule for months, and forcing Singh to perform the type of scientific analyses and review that the PGA Tour was responsible for performing, the PGA Tour finally admitted that the grounds on which it sought to impose discipline were specious and unsupportable.”
Singh claims he compared the ingredients in the deer antler spray along with the Anti-Doping Program’s banned substance list and the spray did not contain any banned substances. In addition, Singh claims to have submitted to a urine test which came back negative for banned substances.
In the lawsuit, Singh claims the PGA Tour tried to suspend him for 90 days, and only dropped its case after WADA removed the substance in deer antler spray off its banned list.
So the million dollar question is: Does Singh have a case?
Defamation or public humiliation is a very difficult case for a public figure to win. A public figure has less privacy than you or I do. Also, Singh brought this upon himself. He came out in public and announced he took the substance, subjecting himself to the humiliation of taking a “banned” substance, regardless of whether the substance should have been banned or not. If he never came out and said he took the spray, he never would have been subject to suspension and never would have been subject to public humiliation.
In addition, the Tour will likely argue, it follows WADA and WADA determines whether a substance is banned or not. Not to mention, the Tour has a strong argument — it keeps its suspensions private. In fact, it has long been a knock that players mysteriously take a tournament off for no apparent reason after committing an offense the week prior. See Sabbatini, Rory.
The PGA Tour will argue Singh’s suspension would have been kept quiet like every other suspension if it chose to suspend him. The fact that the Tour did not suspend him and dropped the case is further evidence in the Tour’s favor.
In all likelihood, Singh is going to have a pretty difficult time proving what the PGA Tour did alone subject him to public humiliation when he publicly humiliated himself by admitting to taking the substance.
This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.
View this post on Instagram
Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.
With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.
Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!
Club Junkie
Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast
The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.
Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.
If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.
Follow Club Junkie:
Instagram: @clubjunkiepod
TikTok: @clubjunkiepod
Threads: @clubjunkiepod
X: @ClubJunkiePod
Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Memorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
J.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
Best irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
-
Equipment5 days agoMemorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
-
News1 week agoRussell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
-
Whats in the Bag3 days agoJ.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
-
Equipment3 days agoBest irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
-
Equipment1 week agoDetails on Jason Day’s latest prototype Avoda iron setup
-
Equipment3 weeks agoCJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
-
News2 weeks agoCharles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
-
Equipment2 weeks agoDetails on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
Jim
May 16, 2013 at 6:54 am
VJ is right but wrong to waste time, money and his reputation with the suit.
However, his next lawsuit, his ‘probable’ suit over the banning of the long putter will be the one to watch. He will instigate a ‘class action’ suit against the PGA against the banning.
blopar
May 14, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Vijay’s biggest problem is that he is Vijay. Have you ever heard the expression never look for trouble, let trouble come to you? Well Vijay is just the opposite….he always looks for trouble and makes it public! The tour should have kicked his a*s right at the start of this. What a nice guy–they let him off an obvious hook—-and he sues them. Total Jerk!
David Sefton
May 10, 2013 at 12:34 pm
…and Finchem saw fit to support his players, including Singh, over the anchored putter rule!
RH
May 10, 2013 at 8:42 am
Botttom line is he took something that was on the banned list at the time and admitted it. He should’ve been suspended right then and there, it doesn’t matter that WADA removed it from the list after the fact, it was on the list at the time. If it was a nobody on tour he would’ve been suspended,Vijay should just shut his mouth and go to the Senior tour
yo!
May 9, 2013 at 8:32 pm
This is a guy that was banned from the Asian tour in the past for supposedly cheating.
Geoff
May 9, 2013 at 1:41 pm
The biggest reason Singh’s case will fail is not discussed above. Every PGA tour player, per their participation contract, waives the right to sue the Tour on account of drug policy violations. His case won’t survive a motion to dismiss on this ground alone.
Devon
May 9, 2013 at 2:26 pm
The thing is, he didn’t violate a drug policy. The PGA violated a rule and that I believe is grounds action. Now, whether it actually makes it into courts or if they come to an agreement is a different story but I believe Singh is in the right with this one regardless of his intentions, unfortunately.
Geoff
May 9, 2013 at 2:30 pm
I should have been a touch clearer. I believe the PGA tour waiver is broader and prevents players for suing the Tour for anything related to drug testing, for example false positives and the like. I don’t doubt Singh’s lawyers have considered this and researched it, though. I do also agree that Singh is in the right, the Tour screwed the pooch.
M Bartolomeo
May 9, 2013 at 1:07 pm
Such a typical Singh response. As much as I respect him as a player, he is always making the wrong comments and the wrong decisions. All there is left to do is shake your head, and file this one away as another Singh-fu (that would be a Singh snafu).
Steve
May 8, 2013 at 7:49 pm
If Singh didn’t think the deer antler spray provided an advantage, why did he spend so much money to buy it? So now his defense is that he only *intended* to use a performance enhancing substance? And because he wasn’t smart enough to actually cheat, he thinks the PGA defamed him? Wow.
Trevor
May 9, 2013 at 11:17 am
You’ve completely missed the point. It’s already been deemed non-performance enhancing but the PGA tour didn’t think to have the spray tested BEFORE calling him out as a cheater, they didn’t do ANY research into the spray whatsoever. They basically publicly humiliated and accused him of cheating without evidence.
Corey
May 9, 2013 at 7:36 pm
the fact that they didnt shouldnt even matter. he took something that he knew was on the ban list, regardless of whether it should have been. he should have petitioned for its removal, then once it was removed start taking it. also, you most likely wont win a defamation case over statements you admit to making. truth is an affirmative defense in a defamation case. hey vijay did you make the statements? vijay:”ya.” case dismissed
Corey
May 9, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Also, without getting too much into the legal elements, a public figure plaintiff has to prove falsity.
Mat
May 8, 2013 at 4:09 pm
It’s not always about winning. Golfers don’t have a union; they’re ICs.