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Now Thorpe suspended by PGA

Jim Thorpe, facing a year in prison on two counts of failing to pay his taxes, has now also been suspended by the US PGA Tour via an e-mail he received on Friday, Golf Digest have reported.

Thorpe, who has appealed the sentence handed down by Judge Karla R. Spaulding on January 22 in the federal court in Orlando, Florida, was hoping, in the meantime, to play in the Champions Tour's Ace Group Classic in Naples, USA, this week, but the e-mail has now made that impossible.

"If we can reach a compromise with the IRS maybe we can get probation," Thorpe told Golf Channel on Saturday when discussing his appeal.

"I think this sentencing was a little tough."

If his appeal fails the popular Thorpe said, "Well then we'll just have to pick up the pieces and go on from there."

Thorpe, who is 61, also faces two years of supervised release, 200 hours of community service and the repayment of nearly $2 million in back taxes, penalties and interest should his appeal not be successful.

But he will not have to do it without the support of his colleagues.

Andy Bean, also a member of the champions Tour, says he has known Thorpe for more than 30 years and insists that whatever the outcome of the appeal, "All his friends will be there to help and support him.

"Everybody likes Thorpey. He has a big heart. He'd give you the shirt off his back. He's just a friend to a lot of guys."