While Scott Stallings PGA colleagues rallied round supportively following his doping suspension Ryder Cup golfer Jimmy Walker acknowledged that the sport's introduction to the Olympics could mean players have to give blood to ensure they are properly tested.
Stallings, who has been given a 90 day suspension, was commended by all three of the American Ryder Cup players taking part in this week's Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for his honesty in having flagged up his own mistake when, under doctor's orders, he took a prescription drug that was on the banned list, not least because he had been tested while using it and had not produced a positive test.
However against a background of growing suspicion about the way golf polices drug taking, in particular because of the policies of the mainstream tours not to divulge penalties when abuses are detected, Walker accepted that he and his fellow players will have to get used to new levels of scrutiny.
"We're getting into a whole other realm and the strictness of what is required if you're in the pool to be in the Olympics," he said.
"It will be interesting going forward.
"There's a lot about the science and the drug testing, seems like from what I've heard if you really want to do this you have to give blood."
As to whether he would have any concerns about that being introduced the 36-year-old was unequivocal.
"I don't have any problem with any of it. However you want to do it," he said of testing procedures.
With considerable speculation having been generated by otherwise unexplained absences from the tour of high profile players in recent times Walker also suggested that the sport's authorities may need to become more transparent in addressing such issues.
"We all seem pretty much in the dark with what's going on with all the suspensions," he said.
"I think it needs to brought to light a little more so we all have an understanding of what's going on."
In noting that Stallings' situation underlined the importance of players double-checking with sports medics even after their own doctors have prescribed treatments to them, Rickie Fowler registered similar concerns about the need for greater clarity.
"From the info you're giving me as far as him being tested and that not coming up... I guess I'll have to get some more info. Sounds a little iffy there," he said.
By contrast Phil Mickelson took a more bullish line on behalf of Stallings and all professional golfers when he seemed to suggest that the drug enforcement rules are denying them rights afforded to the rest of society.
"He was, in my opinion, trying to help his overall health doing something that every other citizen in the country has the right to do and it was taken away from him because he played golf for a living and I don't necessarily agree with that," he said, adding that he eats potatoes because they are "the only food I know that helps increase your testosterone levels."
That message from a veteran golfer who has won five major championships could be interpreted as reinforcing the impression that golf operates within something of a bubble, removed from the rules and regulations that affect other elite sportspeople.
However as Walker alluded to, when referencing its inclusion in the Olympics, that seems set to change.
Beyond that the need for the sport to be more aware of its wider responsibilities was also touched upon by Fowler in a different context yesterday when he was asked about the decision by the PGA of America to cut its links with Donald Trump following the US presidential candidates unsavoury rant about Mexican immigrants.
"Golf has become such a global game and I feel like we are trying to grow it globally," said the 26-year-old.
"I haven't paid a bunch of attention to what's been going on as far as the stuff with Scott (Stallings), Trump... I've been getting ready to play over here.
"I have to pay attention to the news a little bit and catch up. Yeah, I do believe on the golf side of it, it is a global game, so we need to do what's best for golf on that side of things.
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