In what has become a recurring theme of upheaval with the 2010 King Invitational, The King's Court and The Hunt Club have pulled off another major trade that is expected to result in major ramifications for both squads.
That latest trade will send the two-time defending TGA champion, Tommy Dugan to The Hunt Club in exchange for Kim Highfill who was just traded from The King's Court to The Hunt Club less than a week ago. Highfill is expected to re-join his new team, which is actually his old team, on Thursday morning after the brief flight from Myrtle Beach, S.C.
In addition to being the newest trade, this deal is one that comes with the most controversy. After trading Highfill to The Hunt Club earlier this off-season, the TGA Associated Press has learned that Highfill has failed his physical with The Hunt Club and was to be returned to the King's Court.
Under Provision 32, Article 16 of The TGA Collective Bargaining Agreement, trades "nullified due to a player's inability to pass minimal physical requirements or failure to successfully complete a banned substance screening" will result in each of the effected players being returned to the team that previously held their negotiating rights and/or contract.
However, Provision 32, Article 16, Section II states, "if in the above scenario" (referencing Provision 32/Article 16) "the player not effected by the failed physical/substance abuse exam has signed a contract extension with their new team of record or if that player exercises an existing no-trade clause which blocks or prohibits his being re-acquired by his former team, the new team must offer compensation in the form of a player carrying a salary equal to or greater than the player rejecting proposed movement."
When interviewed today, Jackie Childs, Legal Analyst for the TGA Golf Channel, explained the fiasco like this: "Apparently Highfill has failed some sort of physical or substance abuse test. Therefore, he was to be sent back to The King's Court for Chris Morris. However, Morris apparently has already signed a contract extension with The King's Court guaranteeing he will be a member of their team for 2011 or he has exercised a no-trade clause from his original contract with The Hunt Club."
A source inside the King Invitational Cup leadership, speaking on the condition of anonymity has told the TGAP that there are two things at work here.
First, it appears that Highfill tested positive for the presence of a substance, believed to be a PED (performance enhancing drug) that was recently placed on the TGA banned substance list. That positive test result would have returned him to The King's Court.
Secondly, the source told the TGAP, Morris, who was extremely bitter about the original trade that sent him to The King's Court, has invoked the no-trade clause, which he had failed to invoke when The Hunt Club originally traded him simply because he was "hurt by the betrayal of the only team he had ever played for."
That scenario left The King's Court scrambling to replace Morris in the deal with another player. They reportedly were set to offer up Dru Broadway for Highfill but were rebuked by league officials who pointed out that the second section of Provision 32, Article 16 requires them to trade away a player with a salary equal to or higher than that of which Morris will receive in 2010. In the end that left Dugan and The King's Court's former top draft pick, Dwight Clark as the only players eligible to be traded.
Dugan comes to The Hunt Club one year after leading The King's Court in points at The King Invitational and will likely fill the number three spot in the rotation for The Hunt Club. Meanwhile, Highfill will return to The King's Court under mounds of scrutiny and a veil of embarrassment.
"While disappointed at the situation in which this trade has occurred, we are extremely proud to welcome Tommy to The Hunt Club," said Wayne Hunt. "We look forward to a successful season and believe he will play an instrumental role in that. By the same token, I hope Kim is able to overcome this unfortunate misstep and can resurrect his career."
A few feet down the interview table, a visibly shaken Jackie King added, "From a competition standpoint I'm just as comfortable putting Chris and Kim on the course as I was Chris and Tommy. But, as a captain, a player, an event organizer and as a friend I'm equally shocked and disappointed that Kim put himself in this position. I hope we can regroup enough from the off course shenanigans to compete this week."
The anonymous source has told the TGAP that the substance Highfill has tested positive for amphetamines commonly known as speed. Highfill's agent, Jerry Maguire, vehemently denies his client has ever used amphetamines.
However, he released this statement today: "My client has never and will never use illegal or performance enhancing or other recreational drugs. He has a prescription for Adderall and we believe that trace amounts of this drug is what caused him to fail this test. Due to his recreational pursuit as a pilot, his doctor felt Kim, who has long suffered from attention deficit disorder, would benefit from Adderall. We will petition the TGA to get medically-approved usage of this drug removed from the banned substance list."
Adderall is commonly reported to increase alertness, libido, concentration and cognitive performance while decreasing fatigue. A source inside the TGA Tour said players use Adderall to "calm their nerves" and help "increase focus on their grueling matches" where a misread on a crucial putt or an ill-timed errant shot could cost him tens of dollars.
Information for this report was gathered using the TGA Golf Channel, the TGA Associated Press and staff reports and interviews.
