Like his old college teammate Tiger Woods, Casey Martin plays golf. Like Tiger, Casey, 25, has been practicing almost his whole life. And like Tiger, Casey is good. Two weeks ago, he beat top players to win his first professional tournament.
But unlike Tiger, Casey may not be allowed to play pro golf much longer. A disease causes his right leg to swell, and Casey can't walk from hole to hole on a golf course. Instead, he has to ride in a motorized cart.
Using such a cart is against the rules of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA). The PGA says carts make playing easier because walking is one of golf's challenges. Says past golf champ Ken Venturi: "Being in shape is part of the game."
Even Casey's buddy Tiger isn't sure if using a cart is fair. "As a friend, I'd love to see him get a cart. But from a playing standpoint, is it an advantage? Probably," he said.
Martin has already taken his first swing at the PGA by filing a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act. A court in Oregon will hear his case February 2.
"I'm kind of saddened. I need a cart," Martin says. "But I would do anything to be able to walk down the fairway."
Should the PGA let Casey use a cart? Would it be fair to other players?