According to the Associated Press on Wednesday, the PGA Tour has suspended golfer Byeong Hun An of Seoul, South Korea. The reason for the suspension is because he violated the PGA Tour’s anti-doping policy. An reportedly used a cough medicine in South Korea that contained a banned substance.
An is the first golfer suspended for failing a drug test since 2019. Four years ago Matt Every of Daytona Beach, Florida was suspended three months for using cannabis to treat his psychological issues according to Mike Chiari of Bleacher Report. Also in 2019, Robert Garrigus of Nampa, Idaho was suspended three months for using marijuana according to the Associated Press.
In 2014, Dustin Johnson took a leave of absence to deal with his cocaine addiction, but there are conflicting reports whether or not he was actually suspended by the PGA Tour. Then Johnson, was among the many golfers suspended by the PGA Tour in 2022 for joining the LIV Tour.
The timing of An’s suspension is actually in his favour. This is as close to the offseason as the PGA gets. There is not a significant event until January when the PGA Tournament of Champions takes place in Hawaii. An did qualify for this tournament even though he was not victorious in 2023. In a controversial rule, players who did not win in 2023, but finished in the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings, are eligible to compete. An finished 37th. The change in ruling definitely reduces the level of prestige of the PGA Tournament of Champions.
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