Five Takeaways from PGA Tour, Inc. v. Martin

As many golf fans know, a significant portion of the sport is deeply rooted in history and tradition.  Part of this has been that PGA Tour players walk during competition while their caddies carry their bags for them. 

(AFP/Getty Images)

For many, including current Oregon golf coach Casey Martin, the PGA Tour dream starts with qualifying school, or “Q-School” for short.  Martin, who has a circulatory problem in his leg that hinders his ability to walk a golf course, was initially denied access to a golf cart during the third round of the 1997 Q-School competition.  He would later file a lawsuit against the PGA Tour, claiming that the Tour violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.  In a case that went to the Supreme Court, Casey Martin won 7-2.  Here are my five takeaways from such a groundbreaking event:

5. The PGA Tour REALLY loves its tradition.

It has been the story since the PGA Tour’s inception: players walk.  The ruling left a bitter taste in the mouths of some notable names though, including Jack Nicklaus and the late Arnold Palmer.  Nicklaus is even on record saying, “The idea is having a level playing field.  That’s all the tour wanted to have...everyone playing under the same rules.”  From the PGA Tour’s standpoint, this was a tough pill to swallow after falling victim to the literature of the ADA, which prevented the Tour from discriminating against Martin’s disability in a place of public accommodation.   Martin’s use of a cart was deemed not to be an advantage over the competition, but that it brought him to the same level as the competition.  In an environment dead set on having its competitors walk, this obviously did not sit well with the PGA Tour.

4. No Martin, no Pistorius.

One such athlete that obviously comes to mind in a case such as this is former Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius.  During the amputee’s tenure over the last few Olympic games, many spectators and officials questioned whether his prosthetic legs would give him a competitive advantage over the rest of the field.  Pistorius, of course, was able to legally participate in several of the Olympic games and while his specific case isn’t a direct result of Martin’s triumph over the PGA Tour, the two are related enough that I question whether Pistorius would have been able to compete had it not been for Martin’s victory.

3. Casey Martin is extremely resilient.

Most players with a disability wouldn’t even think to keep playing a sport that caused them discomfort.  Casey Martin was much different than most players though, and fought his way through the legal system to ensure that he could continue to compete.  Three years after the initial incident at Q-School, Martin stood up to the PGA Tour and enabled himself to be able to play despite such steadfast rules and regulations from the Tour.  In 2012, Martin qualified for the U.S. Open at forty years old and still received permission to use a cart in competition.  He did not use his disability as bargaining power, but simply pointed out a legal flaw in the PGA Tour’s regulations that could allow him to compete with everyone else.  I’m sure if you even ask him, he likely doesn’t want to be known as a good disabled golfer, just a good golfer.

2. A new demographic is born.

Similar to my argument with Oscar Pistorius, Martin’s victory in the Supreme Court opened up a new demographic of golfers: disabled.  His ability to gain access to a cart during competition could open up the door for players in similar positions to continue pursuing a career in golf.  While their disabilities may hinder their performance on the course, they can at least rest assured that Casey Martin stood up for anyone trying to compete at their best possible level.

1. The Supreme Court got it right.

It’s weird to say this because I am such a passionate follower of the sport and I’m so used to seeing the players walk out on the course.  Even I walk whenever I can!  But the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Casey Martin was not only correct, but also necessary.  The Tour generally attempts to implement a fatigue factor by having its players walk, but Martin was already behind physically despite his skill.  The PGA Tour season obviously takes place on golf courses, which are defined as types of public accommodations where discrimination based on disability is not allowed.  Furthermore, Martin’s use of a cart was deemed to not “fundamentally alter the nature” of the competition because Martin was already disabled.  Again, I truly believe the ruling was necessary, especially because it protects golfers who want a shot at competing despite physical ailments.  Casey Martin was the voice for every single one of those players, past and present.