Peter Dawson, the Royal & Ancient chief executive, announced Tuesday that the British Open didn’t have the programs in place to start drug testing for this year’s tournament, which begins at Royal Birkdale July 17. Said Dawson:

“We have decided that drug testing will not take place at this year’s Open, but we very much plan and hope, and intend, that it will take place next year.”

The delay stems from inconsistent doping education programs. It seems that those players qualifying in Europe and America have been exposed to those programs, but players qualifying in Asia, South Africa, and Australia have not. The British Open does have a “no drugs” clause in its championship entry form.

The 2009 British Open will be played at Turnberry.

^{(photo of Tiger Woods playing at Royal Birkdale Club in 1998 © Newscom)}

Image details: The Masters – Final Round served by picapp.com

Tiger Woods posted on his blog this week that he’s feeling better and off of the crutches (but still using a brace), following his knee surgery on April 15. He also put to rest rumors that his knee problem caused him not to win the Master’s Tournament. Although he was playing in some pain, Woods said that Immelman “has a beautiful golf swing and it was only a matter of time before he put it all together at a major championship.”

Tiger does admit, however, to being just a little stir crazy waiting for when he’ll be able to start rehabilitation and get back on the golf course.

A full schedule of golf events are planned for this weekend, including coverage of the Nationwide Tour. Below is the television coverage (all times are ET).

Saturday, April 26
930am – 1230pm – European Tour – BMW Asian Open in Shanghai, China – Golf Channel
1pm – 4pm – Nationwide Tour – Henrico County Open in Richmond, VA – Golf Channel
1pm – 3pm – Champions Tour – Liberty Mutual Legends in Savannah, GA – CBS
3pm – 6pm – PGA – Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, TX – CBS
4pm – 6pm – LPGA – Stanford International Pro-Am in Aventura, FL – ESPN2

Sunday, April 27
930am – 1230pm – European Tour – BMW Asian Open in Shanghai, China – Golf Channel
1pm – 4pm – Nationwide Tour – Henrico County Open in Richmond, VA – Golf Channel
1pm – 3pm – Champions Tour – Liberty Mutual Legends in Savannah, GA – CBS
3pm – 6pm – PGA – Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, TX – CBS
3pm – 5pm – LPGA – Stanford International Pro-Am in Aventura, FL – ESPN2

^{(photo © istockphoto)}

Image details: EDS Byron Nelson Championship – Final Round served by picapp.com

The PGA golfers are in Irving, Texas this weekend competing in the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, a part of the PGA circuit since 1944. But who is Byron Nelson, for whom the tournament is named? Simply, the best golfer of his era.

Bryon Nelson played the PGA Tour from 1935 to 1946, before retiring from the game to be a rancher and part time golf announcer. In his relatively short career, he won had 52 PGA wins and five wins in major championships–two at the Masters, one at the US Open, and two at the PGA Championship.

Byron was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame and is ranked as the #5 golfer of all time by Golf Digest magazine. Byron died in 2006 at the age of 94.

Win a chance for you and your dad (or a friend) to meet and possibly even play golf with Tiger Woods. Gillette is sponsoring a “Play with a Champion” contest where the top prize is a trip for two to a US destination and a meeting with Tiger (or tennis star, Roger Federer or soccer star, Thierry Henry).

The prize includes roundtrip airfare, three-nights hotel accommodations, $1000 spending money, and airport transfers. There are dozens of lesser prizes, also, including Nike golf clubs and Nike golf balls.

To enter, visit Gillette’s Web site and complete the form. The contest runs from now until August 15 and you can enter once a day. The winner must be a US or Canadian resident and be at least 18 years of age.

Good Luck!

Image details: Ginn Open-Final Round served by picapp.com

While many in the golf world had their eyes on the Masters Tournament, Tiger’s knee surgery, and Trevor Immelman’s surprising win at Augusta, the best woman golfer in the world was quietly winning…and winning…and winning again. On Sunday, she handily won the Ginn Open, her fourth win in a row and her fifth win this year.

Ochoa’s win on Sunday is #22 in her career. That puts her two wins behind the all-time top LPGA winners, Se Ri Pak and Donna Caponi. Will Ochoa be breaking that record this season?

Playing a good round of golf isn’t all physical. It also requires a steady emotional game. Dr. Morris Picken, a sports psychologist in Sea Island, Georgia gives some advice on managing your emotions on the golf course. Take a look:

A full schedule of golf events are planned for this weekend. Below is the television coverage (all times are ET).

Saturday, April 19l
1pm – 3pm – LPGA – Ginn Open in Reunion, Florida – CBS
3pm – 6pm – PGA – Verizon Heritage Classic in Hilton Head, SC – CBS
4pm – 6pm – Champions Tour – Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am in Tampa Bay, Florida – NBC

Sunday, April 20
930am – 1230pm – European Tour – Volvo China Open in Beijing, China – Golf Channel
1pm – 3pm – LPGA – Ginn Open in Reunion, Florida – CBS

3pm – 6pm – PGA – Verizon Heritage Classic in Hilton Head, SC – CBS

4pm – 6pm – Champions Tour – Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am in Tampa Bay, Florida – NBC
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Golf hasn’t been a part of the Olympic games since 1904, but the idea is being discussed again…and it has some strong support. PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem has spoken out in favor of the move. So have Masters Tournament Chairman, Bill Payne and 2007’s #2-ranked golfer, Phil Mickelson.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will vote in 2009 about whether to add the sport to the 2016 games. Adding golf to the summer Olympic games was lasted rejected by the IOC in 2005.

Said Mickelson to the Associated Press, “Having golf become an Olympic sport is a very important thing for the game of golf, and I would definitely play if given the opportunity to represent my country.” We hope Phil gets the chance.

Tiger Woods announced on his Web site yesterday that he underwent successful orthoscopic surgery on his left knee yesterday in Park City, Utah. This is the third surgery that he has had on that knee and he is expected to be off for four to six weeks.

Said Woods on the site, “…I have been through this process before and I know how to handle it. I look foward to working through the rehabilition process and getting back to action as quickly as I can.” He plans to compete in the US Open, beginning on June 9.