'I'm still three-putting but now I don't give a..."

Thanks to reader Greg for this very serious John Coomber piece on the role antidepressants have played in the lives of Brett Ogle, Stuart Appleby and Steven Bowditch. It ends on this light note.

Five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson, who is at Royal Sydney this week, said he never knew depression or stress related illness to be a factor during his playing days, though he suspected some who sought refuge in alcohol may have been suffering.

Thomson recalled that American golfer Tommy Bolt, famous for his temper tantrums on the course, once tried taking sedatives to control his rage.

"In 1956 (the year Thomson won his third successive British Open) Tommy started taking a drug like a kind of valium to calm him down," he said.

"When I came back to America for the 1957 season I asked him if he was still taking the tablets and whether they were doing him any good.

"'Yeah,' he said. 'I'm still three-putting but now I don't give a shit.'"  

Comments

[RGT]

Steven Bowditch should have applied for a major medical. Finchem gave one to Paul Goydos for depression following his divorce.

[Brad]

How about John Daly's minor medical for his on going finger problem plus the fact he played 21 events? Thats a full schedule for next years q-school grad. Was John the victim of the twist off cap or Budweiser pop top version? Hate to think what else might have caused his finger problem.

[Van]

I'd say lots of excuses giving depression a bad name.

[skannberg]

thank god they didn't seek out tom lehman for help. if they had, captain tom would've had another bracelet commision.