NOBODY LIKES A tattletale, so in the wake of some unjust displays of golfing justice, the game’s governing bodies have come together to issue a new clarification to the Rules of Golf limiting the impact of rules violations sourced from the public.
In a bid to lessen the sting of the sometimes harsh result of television reviews, players can avoid a penalty if the violation could not be noticed with the naked eye.
The USGA used the example of a player unknowingly touching a few grains of sand while taking a backswing with a club while in a bunker. DVR technology can catch these moments, violations of the rules of golf that players remain unware of and the “naked eye” can’t see.
Rules officials also will eliminate penalties if they feel players made “a reasonable judgment in taking a drop or replacing their golf ball on the putting green.”
The new decision would have spared Anna Nordqvist a two-shot penalty that cost her a chance to win the U.S. Women’s Open last year.
It is unclear if the reasonable judgment standard noted in Tuesday’s announcement would have cleared Lexi Thompson at the ANA Inspiration — the LPGA’s first major of the year — earlier this month.
I watched this troubling episode live at home, riveted by the inexplicable decision and Thompson’s all-too human reaction.
Thompson was leading by two strokes on the back nine April 2 when she received a four-stroke penalty — two for playing from an incorrect spot, and another two for signing an incorrect scorecard.
Thompson’s penalty had occurred a day earlier, but officials were only made aware the next day via email by a TV viewer who noticed Thompson had incorrectly replaced her ball on a 1-foot putt on the 17th hole during the third round.
In tears on the next tee box after being informed of the delayed penalty ruling, Thompson went off fairway with her shot, but recovered as well as one could imagine, rallying to have a chance at winning in regulation on the tournament’s final regulation hole.
She missed her putt and ended up losing in a playoff.
Could have been worse
In 2016, the USGA and R&A had altered the rules to allow for a 2-stroke penalty in such scorecard signing situations if it was deemed the player could not have known about the penalty; prior to that, Thompson’s infraction would have resulted in disqualification.
The rules committee, after discussing the circumstances with the player and other members of the group, can now clear the player if it is determined that they did all that could be reasonably expected to make an accurate determination with a spot, a line of play or a drop.
In the announcement, the USGA and R&A made no mention of the rulings that affected those LPGA major championships.
saying in a statement that it decided to enact this decision immediately because of the “many difficult issues arising from video review in televised golf.”
The two groups also didn’t touch on Tiger Wood’s troubles with a televised rules violation a few years back in the Masters or Dustin Johnson’s PGA Championship and U.S. Open fiascos.
The decision to limit input from outside sources is sorely needed. You don’t see other professional sports leagues taking input on rules violations from Joe Sixpack, armchair replay official. Golf’s allegiance to its rules and its honor code is different than other sports and requires a high degree of scrutiny. But the result still leaves too much wiggle room.
And the tardiness in implementing penalties is still a part of the game. A rules violation committed in a Thursday round can be enforced on Friday, a violation on Friday can be enforced on Saturday and a violation on Saturday can be enforced on Sunday, but a violation on Sunday can’t be enforced once the tournament has been completed.
The best part of Tuesday’s announcement? A line by Mike Davis, the executive director of the USGA: “We recognize there is more work to be done.”
Golf 4 Grads
Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim will host Golf 4 Grads, a four-person scramble tournament that raises funds for the 2017 Sequim High School Safe &Sober Graduation Night Party.
No handicap is needed and beginners are welcome for the event which will be held Sunday, May 7.
Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. and play begins with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
The cost is $85 per player and includes green fees, cart use, lunch, competition fees, KPs, a long drive contest and shots at hole-in-one prizes.
Honey pots, ball drops and giveaways also are planned.
For more information, stop by the pro shop or phone 360-683-6344.
Help PC athletics
Peninsula College’s annual Pirate Athletic Association Golf Tournament is set for Cedars at Dungeness on Saturday, June 3.
The event raises funds for scholarships for Peninsula College men’s and women’s soccer and basketball players.
Registration opens at 8 a.m. and a shotgun start is planned for 9 a.m.
All skill levels are welcome to come out and enjoy the four-person alternate shot scramble with friends.
Players will receive 18 holes of golf, food and drinks out on the course, Peninsula College gear, a chance to win a car from Wilder Auto and a shot at a 50/50 cash prize.
The entry fee is $100 per player.
Four hole-in-one prizes are planned, including a chance at a $10,000 payout.
Players also can purchase a $20 package that includes two mulligans and two raffle tickets.
Extra mulligans can be purchased for $5, and there’s no limit on the number of mulligans each team can purchase.
Thursday night golf
Discovery Bay Golf Course near Port Townsend is accepting registrations for its Thursday Night Golf League.
The league will begin with a meeting and preseason scramble Thursday, May 4. League details will be ironed out at that meeting, including whether or not the start time will be 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. each week.
For May 4, golfers should arrive by 5:30 p.m.
