With the news that three-time major champion Vijay Singh has admitted to using a deer antler spray, which contains a substance banned by the PGA Tour, the Invitational Shootout Competition Committee has announced that it will be following a similar protocol to the PGA Tour. All Shootout competitors are now prohibited from using deer antler spray or products that contain the banned substance IGF-1. This proactive move follows the guidelines set over the past decade by the Shootout Competition Committee in eliminating performance enhancing drugs from competition.
“Due to his admitted involvement with deer antler spray, Mr. Singh will not be allowed to compete in The Invitational Shootout” said Competition Committee spokesperson and 2009 Invitational Shootout Champion Dave Neill. “The two-person format of our great event is built around integrity and a completely level playing field. At this time, we do not feel that Mr. Singh, nor another golfer using deer antler spray, is competing within the lofty guidelines that we hold ourselves to.”
Since the first event at The Links at Carillon in 1994, the Competition Committee has worked diligently to monitor and police all competitive aspects of The Invitational Shootout. Due to these efforts, the Shootout continues to provide a level playing field for all participants so that the true champions can be decided on the golf course.
“I give the Competition Committee a lot of credit for policing the use of banned substances among the golfers” said 2004 Invitational Shootout Champion Joe Hill. “My partner and I play clean and we expect everyone else to play by the same rules.”