BAKERSFIELD, CA—Bhavik Patel has been suspended one year for violating the PGA Tour’s anti-doping policy, making him the second player to be suspended since golf began its drug testing program in June 2008. The 24 year old Patel has never played a PGA Tour event. He narrowly missed his card in last Q-school in 2012 and played the last two years on the Web.com Tour. Patel finished 103rd on the money list and did not qualify for the...
Web.com Tour Finals. “In an effort to overcome an injury, I made a lapse of judgment,” Patel said in a statement released through the tour. “I regret my decision but have learned from the experience and look forward to returning to competition.” The tour said the suspension would be retroactive to Oct. 7. That means Patel would not be eligible to play until Web.com Q-school next fall. Under its anti-doping policy, the tour is not required to disclose the performance-enhancing drug Patel used.Patel played college golf at Fresno State.