Casey Martin was allowed to use a cart to play golf after a judge in Eugene, Oregon handed down a landmark ruling in favor of the disabled golfer in his lawsuit against the PGA Tour.

In his decision, U.S. Magistrate Thomas Coffin ruled that Martin, who has trouble walking because of Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, is entitled to "reasonable relief." Coffin added that his ruling does not mean other golfers can use carts.

"I hope to do everything I can to make it a positive for everyone," Martin said. "I don't want to, believe me, I wouldn't have done this if I thought I had an advantage. I don't know if people will believe me or not, but that's the truth."

The PGA Tour argued that walking the course is an integral part of golf and that Martin would gain an advantage by using a cart. Coffin admitted he was setting a major precedent by setting aside the rules of the game.

"The PGA Tour is disappointed with the court's decision," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement. "As we have said from the outset of this lawsuit, we believe firmly in the basic premise of any sport, that one set of rules must be applied equally to all competitors."

The USGA, which establishes the rules of golf, said it will not issue a formal statement regarding the verdict until it had had the opportunity to completely review the judgment and assess its implications for the USGA.

The 25-year-old Martin competes on the Nike Tour, a lower-level golf circuit run by the PGA Tour. Before his lawsuit began, he played in two tour events in Florida, winning one and missing the cut in the other. The next Nike Tour event is scheduled for the first week in March, and Martin does not know what kind of reaction to expect.

"I'll have to wait and see," he said. "I'd say it was mixed, my first couple of weeks, but I hope it isn't viewed as a negative to them because I just want to be given a chance to play. And I'm grateful for that chance now."

Martin's lawsuit claimed the PGA Tour's policy of prohibiting players from using golf carts during tournaments was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The PGA Tour argued that allowing Martin to use a cart would give him an unfair edge over other golfers, who must walk the course.

"The PGA Tour believes that the ADA was not designed or intended to apply to competitors in professional sporting events, including professional tournament golf," Finchem said.

"For these reasons, the PGA Tour will appeal the court's findings in this case," he added. "In the meantime, we will comply with the court's requirements to furnish Casey Martin with a golf cart for his use when he plays in Nike Tour events."

There were eight days of compelling testimony in the emotionally charged case. Coffin made his ruling after just three hours of deliberation.

At last month's PGA Tour qualifying tournament, Martin failed to win a Tour card but did earn the right to play on the Nike Tour, which also prohibits the use of carts but made an exception for Martin after Coffin granted him a preliminary injunction late last year.

He won the season-opening Lakeland Classic and $40,500, beating Steve LaMontagne by one stroke, before missing the cut in the South Florida Open.

It is that one-stroke difference that Finchem addressed in testimony Tuesday. He tried to show how a slight advantage over other players on the tour translates to hundreds of thousands of dollars, using the examples of golfers Tiger Woods and Craig Parry.

In 1997, Woods finished second in strokes per round at 69.1 and won an average of $100,000 per event. Parry was 25th at 70.1 and averaged $20,000.

In arguing against Martin, Finchem and just about everyone else has shown admiration for his courage and conviction. Meanwhile, Martin has had the backing of a small group of golfers, some of whom compete against him on the Nike Tour.

He also has the support of Nike chairman Phil Knight, who testified in the case and has made Martin part of his company's "I Can" advertising campaign.

"I wasn't prepared for that kind of attention," Martin said. "I never dreamt for attention like this. I'll just embrace it. I guess that the real tough part is, I'm not Tiger yet, I'm not at that level and I've got all this attention. I've got a lot to work on, I'll be honest."

Martin suffers from a circulatory disorder that causes severe swelling in his right leg. He wears a pair of protective stockings over the leg but still experiences constant pain in the limb.

In deference to Martin's condition, Finchem made carts an option to the nearly 300 golfers in the PGA Tour qualifying tournament. Martin was one of fewer than a dozen golfers who used a cart. Many golfers have said that Martin is at a disadvantage by using a cart, because he does get a feel for the course by walking it.

Lawyers for the PGA Tour tried to win the lawsuit before it started, filing a motion for summary judgment that was rejected by Coffin, who ruled the organization is a commercial entity and not exempt from ADA requirements.

If Martin had lost his suit, he planned to continue playing golf, although walking would restrict and shorten his career. Doctors have warned that extended use could easily break the weakened leg, possibly forcing amputation.