Page 14 - Golf World (February 2020)

“If Tiger can win the US Open on a broken leg, what’s a blister?”
Pablo Larrazabal won the Alfred Dunhill Championship, his first victory since June 2015,
despite foot pain so severe he thought he might not be able to play the final round.

WHATSUPPS? ThePGATour’smajoroilchange

An increasing number of tour professionals are using CBD oil. Should you be joining them?

At the top tier of golf, where the WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? 41 cuts and his world ranking fall substance use at Liverpool
margins between success and Advocates say it offers pain below 2,000, the 34-year-old John Moores University, talking
failure are tiny but worth a relief, relieves stress and won two PGA Tour titles in a to Wired. “In the UK, we have a
fortune, players seek any improves sleep. The suggestion fortnight and finished fourth at number of regulatory agencies,
advantage they can get. The is that it could help golfers cope the next one. but they are under-resourced.
latest edge is CBD oil. The CBD with high-pressure moments. It’s difficult for them to provide
market has grown from almost However, no scientific research IS IT LEGAL? that oversight, because the CBD
nothing to £300 million in the has yet proved any effects. Yes, but you need to be careful. market is too big.”
last three years, with millions The cannabis plant is made up
swearing by its benefits – and WHO USES IT? of more than 100 cannabinoids, IS IT ALLOWED ON TOUR?
it hasn’t gone unnoticed by It is estimated that dozens of the main two being “We don’t determine what is
the world’s top golfers. players, if not hundreds, use cannabidiol (CBD) and a banned substance,” says PGA
CBD across the PGA Tour and andtetrahydrocannabinol Tour commissioner Jay
WHAT IS IT? PGA Champions Tour. Bubba (THC). THC is the psychoactive Monahan “We rely on WADA
Short for cannabidiol, CBD is a Watson was one of the first to cannabinoid that p Doping Agency].
chemical compound found in publicly state he was using it – get ‘high’ and is ille BD is unregulated,
the cannabis plant. In pure form, he announced a partnership in the UK. CBD is le with risk. We’ll
it is an oil, although this oil has with cbdMD last April and bears some products also to stay very close
been used to create myriad their logo on his visor – while contain small amou bstance that would
products, including tablets, Brendon Todd’s career was of THC, which isn’t. or off their list.”
lotions, creams, burgers, resurrected after he started “There’s no real moved CBD oil
toothpicks, teas, sweets, using it. After a three-year control,” says Harry banned list in
chocolate bars and bath bombs. stretch that saw him miss 37 of Sumnall, a professo er 2017.

‘Advocates say it offers pain

relief, relieves stress and

improves sleep. The
suggestion is that it could

help golfers cope with

high-pressure moments.’

BUBBA: ‘I’M ALL FOR IT’ SHOULD YOU BE USING IT? RORY: ‘I’M NOT SO SURE’

“I’ve personally felt the benefit A few drops of CBD oil aren’t going to knock “I’m very aware of the banned
I use it because I’m getting old 10 shots off your handicap, but there is substance list and careful what
For the inflammation in my bo evidence (albeit anecdotal) to suggest it can put into my body. I wouldn’t be
waking up with better sleep – help with anxiety and sleep quality. If either comfortable taking CBD oil. I’d
those were the two things I wa of those are having a negative impact on be paranoid that there would
focused on. With a seven-year your golf game – or any aspect of your life – be THC in it and that could
old and a four-year-old in the CBD is just one of a long list of things you lead to a positive [drug] test.
house, and playing golf all day, could try, but it’s probably not top of that I am the most conservative on
I needed some energy fast. Fo list. If you do try it, make sure you find a everything. I try not to take
me, it’s all about sleep and product that is pure CBD, free from THC, anything in terms of pills to help
trying to get the body right.” and consult your doctor first. in any way.”

14 Golf World February 2020 | golfworldtop100.com