Every Plays John Deere after Drug Bust
Matthew Every teed off in his first round of the John Deere Classic on Thursday, two days after the PGA Tour golfer was charged with possession of a controlled substance. Every apologized for his poor judgement in a statement released by his management.
The PGA rookie shot a one-under 70 during the first round at the TCP Deere Run in Silvas Illinois.
Police received a phone call Tuesday from the Island Casino Hotel in Bettendorf, Iowa, in which somebody complained of an overwhelming marijuana smell. Police arrived at the hotel at 4:30pm where three of the four occupants of the room admitted to smoking the drug.
Every, 26, along with Derek Mason, 28, and William Hicks, 46, were taken to the Scott County Jail in Iowa and charged with drug possession, a misdemeanor. Every was released Tuesday night after posting bond. He pleaded not guilty and has denied possessing marijuana. Every’s agent Kevin Canning has declined further comment.
The PGA player has made 13 starts on the Tour this year, and his best finish was T8 at the Waste Management Open in Phoenix last Friday. Every attended the University of Florida where he won the 2006 Ben Hogan Award, a competition for the nation’s top collegiate golfer. Every also appeared on the Golf Channel reality show “The Big Break” before joining the Nationwide Tour in 2008.
The trauma of the ordeal did not impact Every’s performance, but the competition is not over yet. His playing time will be reduced depending on the punishment he receives, if he receives any punishment.
Every played in various PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour events throughout 2006 and 2007. He finished runner-up in 2008 at the Mexico Open, his second start on the Nationwide Tour. He ended the 2008 season with four top 10 finishes and earned $180,000. He just missed the cut for the top 25 earnings.
In 2009, Every made less money and was 49th on the money list. He went into the Nationwide Tour Championship looking for a third place finish or better in order to get his PGA Tour card for 2010. Every went on to win the event by three shots, beating Michael Sim, the current Nationwide Tour money leader. He took a 34 hole lead in the second round where he scored a 63. Every had been in three top 10’s entering the season, and surprised everyone with his win. He catapulted to 10th on the money list.
Every has since been a rookie on the PGA Tour.
The PGA has all players undergo a mandatory drug test, but it does not publicly name those players who test positive for recreational drugs.
In 2009 Doug Barron, 40, was banned from the PGA tour after he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. He was the first golfer to receive the ban and was suspended for a year for violating the PGA anti-drug policy. The PGA did not reveal the name of the drug.
The PGA Tour’s anti-doping program was launched in July of 2008. It stated that in the instance of a drug being detected, the Tour would not disclose details until after the appeals and challenges were completed.
Punishments could range from disqualification from an event, a suspension for one year from the Tour for a first violation, and as many as five years suspended upon a second violation. Should a golfer be caught more than three times, the PGA Tour has the right to administer a lifetime ban. There are also fines up to $500,000 that a player could be forced to pay.
Tags: