"Guys use protein, they take creatine, which is legal, but really, we're all just following the example Tiger has set."

The Denver Post's Anthony Cotton looks at the performance enhancing drug issue in golf and includes some interesting player comments late in the piece. First, Woody Austin:

"It could be tempting because the game is a power game now. It isn't about precision any more," Austin, a pro for more than 20 years, said. "Back in the day, the game was about controlling your ball; now, that's not the case.

"When the top five players in the world say they don't even worry about hitting the ball in the fairway when you're talking about 340-yard drives and 7,500-yard courses — I guess somebody might be tempted."

Oh but wait until they get those V-grooves Woody. It'll all change overnight.

Now here is the interesting part, courtesy of Sean O'Hair.

But younger players, like the 25-year-old O'Hair, say illegal substances aren't needed to reach those numbers, or to succeed at the game's highest level.

"The guys I talk to, we kind of laugh at all of this," O'Hair said. "Steroids create bulk — which isn't good for golf. They're going to affect your mind and thinking — which isn't good for golf. There's just no benefit from it.

"Guys use protein, they take creatine, which is legal, but really, we're all just following the example Tiger has set. The younger guys work out harder than the older guys do; they're in better shape than the older guys were — that's why we hit it longer, and that's why we're going to have longer careers than they did."

So, will just ignore the "we're better athletes" fantasy for a moment. O'Hair says no one would ever think of using something to help bulk up or improve endurance, yet he says guys are taking creatine, which helps you bulk up and improve endurance.

Ah, but creatine is legal, and apparently, because we are talking about golf, home of the self-righteous and law-abiding, no one would ever do anything illegal.

And about following that example Tiger sets, FYI, he advocates performance enhancing drug testing.