Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland (right) England's David Howell (centre) and Fiji's Vijay Singh share a laugh during practice for the British Open at Carnoustie yesterday. The Open tees off today. - AP

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (Reuters):

TOUR GOLFERS are taking performance-enhancing drugs and escaping sanction because the sport does not have dope testing, Gary Player said on the eve of the 136th British Open.

"I know there are golfers doing it (taking drugs), whether it's HGH (human growth hormone), whether it's creatine or whether it's steroids, I know for a fact some golfers are doing it," Player told a news conference yesterday.

The greatest thing that (Open organisers) the R&A (Royal and Ancient), the USGA and PGA can do is have tests at random. It's absolutely essential we do that. We're dreamingif we think it's not going to come into golf."

The diminutive South African is one of the most influential figures in the sport and a multiple winner of all four majors.

"I would say in the world tour today, I would say there's 10 guys taking something. I might be way out. Definitely not going to be lower but might be a hell of a lot more," Player said.

Random Tests

"I'm delighted to see that they're going to start having tests at random if that's what they officially have decided."

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said it was in dialogue with the various tours and the British Open would eventually become part of an overall random testing system.

"These discussions, I'm pleased to say, are at a pretty advanced stage," said Dawson. "What I do support is getting on with this in a measured but quick fashion."

Dawson would not speculate whether professional tour players were taking drugs.

"I read some comments from Tiger (Woods) earlier this week where he didn't think people were taking drugs," he said.

Player had told the conference that he knew for sure that some were.

"One guy told me - I won't tell you where - and I could see this massive change in him."

Player, 71, who has won nine major titles including three British Opens, said he had rejected an offer to take HGH from "every doctor I go to".

"I said really I've done everything I wanted to do in golf. I've got 20 grandchildren, I want to enjoy my life with them and I don't want to take it because I'm not sure what it will do to me."