O’Grady Facing Fine, Six-Week Suspension for Criticizing Beman

Deane Beman, commissioner of the PGA Tour, said Thursday that he has reached a preliminary decision to fine touring pro Mac O’Grady up to $10,000 and suspend him for as many as six weeks for comments criticizing Beman and the PGA.

O’Grady, also facing disciplinary action on two other counts, was informed of Beman’s decision in a letter handed to him before he played Thursday in the first round of the Hertz Bay Hill tournament. O’Grady shot a 73, two over par.

Beman notified O’Grady of a pending major disciplinary action, which he said was the result of accumulated statements by O’Grady. O’Grady also has been notified of two pending intermediate actions. All told, O’Grady is facing fines of up to $12,000 and a 12-week suspension.

O’Grady has called Beman “a thief with a capital T,” a Communist and a Nazi, and also has criticized fellow professional Jim Colbert, a member of the tour’s policy board.

O’Grady’s dispute with Beman began in 1984, when Beman fined him for remarks allegedly made to a courtesy driver at a New Orleans tournament.

Penalties imposed on players are usually a private matter, but since O’Grady made public a notice he received last week of impending disciplinary action, Beman chose to make his side public.

“The integrity of the PGA Tour and the game of golf itself has been attacked,” Beman said. “I cannot allow one individual to continue such destructive statements without taking serious action.”

O’Grady has 30 days to respond to Beman’s notice and other previous disciplinary actions.

O’Grady said he would respond to each charge through his lawyer, but would not discuss the situation.

“I would love to say something, but it’s getting to the point now where it’s out of hand,” said O’Grady, who has complained that his right of free speech is being violated and has threatened to sue Beman and the PGA. “If I see (Beman), it will be in the courtroom. That’s the only place.”

In the letter, Beman said O’Grady’s “continued attacks threaten the image and good will of tournament golf and the PGA Tour built up over many years. While I will await your response to the current notice of a major disciplinary offense before making a final decision, my preliminary decision would be to impose a major fine ($5,000-$10,000) and a suspension from tournament play of three to six events and to place you on probation for one year.”