Mickelson feels for Barron

Mickelson: Sympathy

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Phil Mickelson has admitted his sympathy towards journeyman Doug Barron, who has been suspended for a year after failing a drugs test.

The 40-year-old became the first golfer to be banned following the introduction of the anti-doping policy last year, although he claims he was not trying to gain an unfair advantage.

Barron, a veteran of 238 PGA Tour appearances, was playing on the Nationwide Tour on a medical exemption and is known to have taken medication in the past for several conditions.

Mickelson said the player was just unfortunate to have fallen foul of the tules, although admitted he did not know the background to the story.

"I don't know the details of it," he said. "I know that we have been tested numerous times throughout the last year and a half since the policy has been in place. But I don't know the specifics," he said.

"I would venture to say that there was some sort of mix-up. Just knowing my fellow players, I don't think they would do anything to try to skirt the rules.

"I've never really thought of Doug Barron as an Arnold Schwarzenegger-type body. So I'm guessing, not knowing any details, that there was probably some kind of confusion or misunderstanding."

Tiger Woods said the game's reputation needed to be upheld and that the anti-doping policy is an important part of that process.

"I heard about it [Barron's ban] today," he said. "It's unfortunate, but that is one of the reasons why we have the policy to make sure no-one does anything that's improper for the game of golf and I think that it is great that we have the policy in place.

"I don't know if he tested for performance-enhancing or recreational, but the whole idea is to keep our sport clean and that is why we created the policy and it has been executed and unfortunately one player didn't obey the policy."