Matt Every was suspended for 12 weeks on Friday by the PGA Tour for a violation of the Tour's Conduct Policy for "drugs of abuse."
The Tour did not specify what substance Every tested positive for and said it will have no further comment on the suspension at this time. Every, who will be eligible to return to competition on Jan. 7, 2020, said in a statement to GolfChannel.com that he tested positive for cannabis.
"I have been prescribed cannabis for a mental health condition by my physician whom has managed my medical care for 30 years," he told GolfChannel.com. "It has been determined that I am neither an acceptable candidate to use prescription 'Z' class drugs nor benzodiazepines.
"Additionally, these classes of drugs can be highly addictive and harmful to the human body and mind. For me, cannabis has proven to be, by far, the safest and most effective treatment."
The 35-year-old from Daytona Beach, Fla., who currently resides in Jacksonville, is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, with the most recent victory coming in 2015 when he repeated as the Arnold Palmer Invitational champion. However, the former top-50 player has struggled with his game since, finishing the next three years ranked 558th, 707th and 583rd.
Every has missed nine of 21 cuts in 2019, but did tie for second at the AT&T Byron Nelson in May -- his best finish since that 2015 victory. After a string of three missed cuts and a withdrawal in four events beginning with The Northern Trust (NASDAQ:NTRS) to kick off last season's FedEx (NYSE:FDX) Cup Playoffs, Every tied for 18th at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and tied for 28th at the Houston Open earlier this month.
Every is currently ranked 256th but is fully exempt for the 2019-20 PGA Tour season after qualifying for last season's playoffs. He said he has "no choice but to accept this suspension and move on," and will be eligible to return the week of the Sony Open.
"I don't agree with it for many reasons, mainly for my overall well-being, but I'm excited for what lies ahead in my life and career," he told the GolfChannel.com. "Over the last few years I have made massive strides and I know my best is still in front of me. I can't wait to come back better than ever in January."
--Field Level Media