So the LPGA Tour has announced it will have a drug-testing policy by the 2008 season. I think fundamentally this is a decent idea because being proactive is much better than reactive in drug-testing. Look at baseball and people don't like guys on steroids, but golf is different.

Have you seen some of the women on the LPGA Tour? Is steroids that big a problem? Carolyn Bivens, the LPGA Commissioner, is taking in water big time in her first year, so if I were her, I'd be more concerned with repairing the burnt bridges that she has established with sponsors, players, media and pretty much everyone involved short of the beer patrons than testing non-drug users.

Slow time of the year, so I'll tackle two big issues if you want to call them that.

Tiger and Phil skip the Tour Championship and there's nothing the PGA Tour can do about it. They've made millions and millions of dollars and there's nothing the tour can do to get them there. Both are entitled to skip it if they want, they're the two biggest stars in golf. It's disappointing, but life can kick you in the backside sometimes. My biggest concern comes next year when the FedEx Cup debuts, will they be there? I believe both will participate at least in 2007, but I doubt Mickelson will after that unless he's guaranteed to win the $10 million.

Paul Azinger will be named the United States Ryder Cup captain. Not exactly the biggest surprise in the history of civilization since he took his name out of consideration last time to get this gig. I'd still go with Freddie Couples since the least amount of pressure on the team as possible is best and Couples is low-key. The bottom line is that it could be Azinger, Couples, Pres. Bush, Bugs Bunny or Patton, if the team plays badly again and the Europeans play great, it's over by Saturday afternoon.