Rule Infraction At Phoneix Waste Mgt ?

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By Carl T

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  • 6 Replies
  1. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    At the end of the tournament Tommy Gainey hit his ball into the water on the 17'th hole. He took a drop where he had to hand place the ball because his two previous attempts the balled rolled back into the hazard and was caught by his caddy before the ball fell into the water. Nothing wrong with this. He hit his third shot which again rolled back into the hazzard. When taking a drop his ball starting rolling back toward the hazzard but before it crossed the line Tommy reached down and stopped the ball. Was this a rules violation ? He then proceeded to drop again and finished with a tripple boggey.

  2. Trey P

    Trey P
    Lubbock, TX

    Military

    I only saw the original drop replay, and did not see the replay you are speaking of. Here is what I got directly from the USGA site in regards to an answer to what you are asking:

    20-2. Dropping and Re-dropping

    c. When to Re-Drop

    A dropped ball must be re-dropped without penalty if it:

    (vi) rolls and comes to rest more than two club-lengths from where it first struck a part of the course

    The only thing I can think of is when he dropped the ball and  it began rolling towards the hazard, he KNEW that it was going to end up more than two club lengths from the original position the ball struck the ground during the drop. Plus, given the severity of that hill and seeing what happened on the flubbed chip on the previous shot, this was pretty obvious that the ball was going to roll back in the hazard. Hope this helps.

  3. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    Trey P said:

    I only saw the original drop replay, and did not see the replay you are speaking of. Here is what I got directly from the USGA site in regards to an answer to what you are asking:

    20-2. Dropping and Re-dropping

    c. When to Re-Drop

    A dropped ball must be re-dropped without penalty if it:

    (vi) rolls and comes to rest more than two club-lengths from where it first struck a part of the course

    The only thing I can think of is when he dropped the ball and  it began rolling towards the hazard, he KNEW that it was going to end up more than two club lengths from the original position the ball struck the ground during the drop. Plus, given the severity of that hill and seeing what happened on the flubbed chip on the previous shot, this was pretty obvious that the ball was going to roll back in the hazard. Hope this helps.

    I think there was a rule violation as the dropped ball was still in motion, had not rolled two club lengths, had not come to rest and had not crossed the margine of the hazzard. There is no doubt the ball would have rolled into the hazzard if he had not stopped it but I don't think in the rules of golf you can assume what MAY occur. Anyway, just wondering if I'm the only person that noticed this ? Personally I was hoping that Tommy could win this tournament.

  4. Deno

    Deno
    New Jersey

    Military

    Carl

    Good question

    If he didn;t stop the ball and it rolled into the water,  I THINK he 'd have to fish it out or get another pemalty for not finishing the hole with the original ball.  Remeber the player who marked his ball and tossed it in the pond by accident?  His caddy waded in to retrieve it.

    At least you didn't email the tour to ask after he signed his card.

    Deno

  5. Quintin H

    Quintin H
    Morehead, KY

    If this is a complete and accurate account of what happened, then yes it is a penalty.

    If it was an improper drop, then it doesn't matter. For example, if the ball first struck the course closer to the hole than where it last crossed the hazard, then it is an improper drop and picking the ball up would make no difference.

  6. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    John H said:

    If this is a complete and accurate account of what happened, then yes it is a penalty.

    If it was an improper drop, then it doesn't matter. For example, if the ball first struck the course closer to the hole than where it last crossed the hazard, then it is an improper drop and picking the ball up would make no difference.

    Perhaps this is what happened. Viewing angles can be skewed when watching a TV screen. That is why I don't like the idea of someone watching a golf tournament on their TV calling in a rules violation.

    Deno, There is no penalty for loosing your ball in the water hazard when taking a drop other than the cost of the ball. It is OK to have someone stop the ball after it crosses the margine of the hazard. The ball is not in play until a proper drop is determined. In the case where the player threw his marked ball into the water, that marked ball was in play on the putting green. He had to finish the hole with the ball in play or other wise incur a penalty.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  7. Deno

    Deno
    New Jersey

    Military

    Carl

    Thanks for the clarification.  I think it was a great post.  Makes us all aware of the rule book we need to re-read over and over.

    Deno

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