Golf: Norman rejects drugs claims

GREG NORMAN yesterday fired a broadside at Mac O'Grady, describing the former US Tour player as a 'loose cannon'. This was in response to O'Grady's claim that at least seven of the world's best players take beta-blockers to improve their performance, writes Tim Glover.

'You can't go around making rash comments without any proof,' Norman, the hot favourite to win the 58th Masters, said. 'We're in the cleanest sport there is.' Ray Floyd, the Masters champion in 1976, also reacted indignantly to O'Grady's comments. 'I've never even heard of beta-blockers,' Floyd said. 'O'Grady should be banned from the game.'

O'Grady, who as a player was always good for an outlandish quote, has reappeared here as the potential saviour of Seve Ballesteros, twice a Masters champion but without a victory of any kind for the last two years. 'I've given Seve 40 things to try and he's got 38 of them right,' O'Grady said. Presumably he has not recommended beta-blockers to the Spaniard.

The drug, which can only be obtained on prescription, calms the nerves and in this respect has the opposite effect to that administered by O'Grady. He admitted taking them and said they improved his putting. There is no drug-testing in professional golf although amateurs can be subjected to random tests.

As it happens, Norman has been popping pills for most of the season. He suffered from an allergy in Dubai and the following week in Thailand took five different medicines. Every year at Augusta he suffers from hayfever and this week he will continue to take the tablets. Another player taking his medicine is Iain Pyman, the 21-year- old Amateur champion. Pyman, who plays with Arnold Palmer today, spent two hours in a dentist's chair. Although in great pain - he could hardly talk - Pyman played nine holes yesterday with Nick Faldo.