My Word for May 29, 2001

The subject has to be Casey Martin — the young professional golfer suffering from a rare circulatory condition for which there is no cure.

The U.S. Supreme Court says Martin should be able to use a cart when he competes in the PGA.

The PGA thinks walking is part of the game, and that somebody on a cart is getting a big break.

So what happens to competition now that Martin gets to use a cart while others walk? These PGA events go on for four days. Fatigue is supposed to be a factor.

Martin still has to walk. You can't drive the cart right up to the ball ... he just has to walk much less. But  — even with the cart — he still has to contend with his painful condition.

So the question for the Solomons among you is: Does pain cramp Martin's skill as much as fatigue would another golfer?

All any of us can do with that question is guess.

The public seems to side with the U.S. Supreme Court and Casey.

Golfers tend to hold out because, as a group, they like to weigh every teensy advantage another golfer may have.

Oddly enough, this decision might work against Martin, even as it helps him to get into the PGA events with his cart.

It works against him because now that he's got a perceived advantage, expectations are higher.

Maybe even too high if people now think he's going to beat Tiger Woods.

And if he ever does beat the best, does Casey get an asterisk?

* Won with a cart?

The fact is: Casey Martin's disadvantage, his medical condition, can't be erased by a court or a cart.

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