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Woods assessed 2-shot penalty for illegal drop

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Tiger Woods, the favorite at this year’s Masters Tournament, has been assessed a two-shot penalty for an illegal drop he took in the second round on Augusta’s 15th hole.

Woods third shot on the hole, a par 5 with a water hazard in front of the green, hit the flagstick on the fly, causing it to ricochet into the water hazard.

Woods had three options after his ball entered the water hazard, which was a yellow-staked hazard (not lateral):

  1. Replay his shot from “as close as possible” from the original location.
  2. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the spot where the ball crossed the hazard between the hole and the spot where the ball was dropped.
  3. Play from the designated drop area.

Woods chose not to play from the designated drop area, but rather to drop his ball two yards behind the original location of his shot — a decision he discussed with ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi after the round.

Because Woods’ ball last crossed the hazard on a different line than where his ball originally crossed the hazard, Woods’ drop — two yards behind the original spot — was illegal.

[youtube id=”lBkqzBFA3qE” width=”620″ height=”360″]

Instead of disqualifying Woods, or Woods removing himself from the tournament, Masters rules officials have assessed Woods a two-shot penalty under a clause that gives rules officials discretion over infractions committed after a player has signed his card.

Click here to read the official statement from Masters Tournament headquarters.

Tiger took to twitter to make his own statement known at 11: 55 a.m. EST in a series of five tweets.

Tiger Woods will begin his third round at 1:45 p.m. EST. He is now 1-under (instead of 3-under for the tournament), five shots back of leader Jason Day.

Click here to see what people are saying in the “Tour Talk” forum.

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79 Comments

79 Comments

  1. Olivier

    May 2, 2013 at 10:48 am

    You know what I dont get? Tiger literally hit the flagstick… This means that the line of the flagstick, the point where his ball crossed the water hazard AND the point from where he played his third shot on hole 15 is exactly the same line as the line on which he can drop his ball behind the water hazard and moving back as much as he wants?

    Is this a stupid question or should Tiger not have been penalized at all??

  2. Brian

    Apr 14, 2013 at 8:12 am

    The committee made the ruling, they reviewed it later, after Peres conference and a call in they reviewed it more. These crazy runs are hard enough to keep straight, and they needed all this help and more hours to interpret. Yet, Tiger is to make the decision that moment. Committee made the decision, I don’t agree with Brandle, I agree with Frank Nobilo. He’s the correct one. Shame the master for not having rules officials with each group. The smallest major field and the they do not have outside rules officials.

    The penalty has been issued but there is one solution to satisfy me, GO EL ‘ PATO!!!

  3. Ryan

    Apr 13, 2013 at 10:37 pm

    He didn’t know he broke a rule. Rule 33-7 leaves it up to the commitee to call BS on whether he knew or didn’t know he was breaking a rule. They didnt call BS on him. Done.

  4. Dave

    Apr 13, 2013 at 8:23 pm

    And if it were anyone else they would have been DQ’d in a heart beat.. total BS.

  5. Poop Squirrel

    Apr 13, 2013 at 7:41 pm

    C’mon Tiger, New life baby! 66 to win it tomorrow!

  6. Ryan

    Apr 13, 2013 at 6:19 pm

    I hope Tiger wins just to rile up the naysayers even more.

  7. Ryan

    Apr 13, 2013 at 6:17 pm

    Well said Suge.

  8. Shug Avery

    Apr 13, 2013 at 1:41 pm

    Third party complaints exist and this situation proves it. There was a rule violation and a penalty was assessed, an exception was granted per the rules. There is support from the players of the application of these rules. If Tiger goes on to win he did so playing and beating the field. He is deemed eligible to compete per the governing body. Guan’s penalty is a bigger tragedy.

    • Andre

      Apr 13, 2013 at 3:39 pm

      Well said shug! And for those who keep talking about the post round interview and tigers comments. He clearly says he moved back to yards, but it was cause he thought he was acting under the rules that he could move back. Not in the intent to cheat. Even the Davis ferehty was commentating, and was unsure on this options. And you can clearly hear as he speaking. It wasn’t intentional, but of course if he does happen to win. There will be those who think he didn’t deserve to be there.

      • Bob S

        Apr 13, 2013 at 5:45 pm

        Now lets see….”he clearly says he moved back to yards, but it was cause he thought he was acting under the rules….”. 1) I have not seen on any post interviews, or for that matter any interviews where Tiger is quoted as making this statement. 2) The last time i checked, it is the golfers responsibility to know precisely the rules of golf….esp at this level! 3) As to intent….Tiger specifically stated he moved back 2yds to accommodate the flight pattern of upcoming shot he wanted to hit. As to final outcome and “rules committee” opinion….you be the judge!!

  9. Brian

    Apr 13, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    I think the game of golf as a whole needs to be simplified. The fact that the USGA rulebook reads like the tax code and that a rules official is needed for each group of experienced professional players in a tournament tells me it’s time the whole thing needs to be reevaluated.

  10. shark

    Apr 13, 2013 at 1:16 pm

    Maybe Tiger should be DQ’d but I would like to ask the question why is Vijay Singh playing in the masters after admitting to taking drugs, no DQ for Vijay. Seems like golf is full of double standards…

  11. LObin

    Apr 13, 2013 at 12:37 pm

    Can someone explain me why the ball didn’t cross the hazard on the same line? Because he moved back a couple of yards and was coming on an angle? Seriously?!? The 2nd ball landed whithin 10 feet of the 1st ball landing spot (the flag).
    What happens if he drops the ball in the same spot where he hit his 1st shot from but pushes the ball 20 feet to the right? It wouldn’t cross on the same line either…

    • Gary Ward

      Apr 13, 2013 at 12:54 pm

      Lobin the rule is where the ball last crossed the margin i.e where it crossed AFTER it hit the flag i.e way to the left of the point he played from, he considered that apparently but the lie would have been terrible. The rule is the ball must be dropped on a straight line keeping the point the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard and the flag. It doesn’t mean the next time you hit it that it has to cross the same point 🙂

  12. LObin

    Apr 13, 2013 at 12:25 pm

    Mario, I’ve been reading your comments and I strongly disagree. Refering to the Dustin Johnson’s incident isn’t a good comparaison. Dustin wasn’t DQied. He was assigned a 2 stroke penalty before signing his card, which put him outside of a playoff with Kaymer and Watson. And his case is totally different since he thought it wasn’t a hazard because of all the fans stepping in the “bunker”. Poor job by the rule official and poor job by his caddy (Tiger’s caddie…).
    When that whole sad story happened, the rule 33-7 didn’t exist. Now it does. Should he withdraw because other golfers in the past, prior to the 33-7 rule, got DQied? Eeehhhh… NO!
    AND, the rules official reviewed the play before Tiger signed his card and declared there was no penalty. I read that they changed there mind after someone called because after hearing Tiger’s comment on the play.

  13. Andre

    Apr 13, 2013 at 12:24 pm

    Since we are “following the rules” let dq all the player who have won with long anchored putter! That following the rules!

    • Gary Ward

      Apr 13, 2013 at 12:49 pm

      The point is that is not a rule, so they haven’t broken it. Tiger broke a very simple rule that anyone who plays golf should know then admitted that it was his intention to do so on TV.

      • Bob S

        Apr 13, 2013 at 2:07 pm

        And Gary is absolutely correct; Tiger indicted himself w/the post round interview….clearly stating what his thinking was PRIOR to the 5th shot. He is on record as wanting to give himself an additional 2yds with the drop for execution of the upcoming shot. Now…determining the facts, and putting timing of those facts in conjunction w/intent of the player….that becomes the essence of this discussion.

  14. Kevin

    Apr 13, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    I never liked the idea of being dq’ed for something you did not know you did wrong, but there is no precedent for how this 2-shot penalty was handed down instead of a dq. A rule is a rule for a 14-year old kid, but Tiger apparently is bigger than golf and gets treated differently.

  15. i.p.

    Apr 13, 2013 at 12:04 pm

    If Tiger is not disqualified at this event, then Roberto De Vincenzo should have won the Masters in his times instead of being disqualified for signing a wrong scorecard.
    Really a bad move… What a shame for the entire movement of Golf!!!!

    • Artie

      Apr 13, 2013 at 12:19 pm

      The rule didn’t exist when he played, unfortunately.

  16. TD

    Apr 13, 2013 at 12:01 pm

    A rule is a rule; I agree with Ryan M. & Forsbrand. It’s the people that call in, incorrect scorecard (why have them anymore?) ohh, that leaf moved, etc, etc. It’s that finky attitude that has led to the decline of golf. The purist say that shouldn’t be considered. Well if that was the case, then Augusta, USGA and PGA wouldn’t be teaming up to promote junior golf. If that wasn’t the case, the PGA wouldn’t have gone against the USGA/R&A on belly ban. The committee rendered its decision, based on the revision of the rule.

  17. northgolf

    Apr 13, 2013 at 11:53 am

    I like how people here think they are more qualified to make a decision than the rules committee at the Masters.

    • 2putttom

      Apr 13, 2013 at 12:38 pm

      Right on… bunch of arm chair officials.

  18. Cody

    Apr 13, 2013 at 11:46 am

    This is for The Masters rules committee and Tiger Woods. I am unsure if this has been said but:

    What would Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. have done?

    • Artie

      Apr 13, 2013 at 12:19 pm

      He let Palmer play two balls after he disagreed with a ruling, and went on to win…

  19. Jay

    Apr 13, 2013 at 10:59 am

    Hey Bob S, maybe u shouldnt make statements like that when u dont no what ur talking about. The tournament is run by Augusta National and not the PGA and they do make the decisions with regards to rules infranctions, get ur facts straight before u make comments like that.

    • Bob S

      Apr 13, 2013 at 11:05 am

      Jay….you sir need to get your “facts” straight; not only does the Masters and officials of Augusta National run this tournament in conjunction with the official rules of golf as established by the USGA/R&A/PGA…..but that was not the MAJOR point that i was addressing! You initially stated, and for the 2nd time i will quote, “Augusta has discretion over the rules….”unfortunately for your position, you sir are clearly WRONG!!

      • Dale W

        Apr 13, 2013 at 11:23 am

        When is the whole calling in penalties going to stop. I can’t believe that golf still allows this to happen. When was the last time I could call into a football or baseball game when they made a obvious bad call. Oh that’s right you can’t and it is taking away from this great game. In every sport there is going to be mistakes made that’s why we all watch and love live sports. Since when is it our responsibility to change the outcomes the athletes are competing in real time and we are able to call in long after they are done and gone home. Next time that pitch is called a strike I want to be able to call 6 hours later and have them change it to a ball. These guys play a game we can only dream about and rules officials follow them around so we should not be able to affect the outcome.

        • Adison

          Apr 13, 2013 at 11:51 am

          Agree with Dale W. This call-in B.S. should be stopped! Secondly after the rule officials reviewed the video and made the decision that he made a legit drop, it should stop there! Regardless of what tiger or any player says after the call has been made! In what other sport do the officials review a call, make a decision and then the next day decide to change their mind and implement a penalty? The answer is NONE! And don’t even get me started on the penalty they gave the 14 yr old even though its broke at every event by several players and hasn’t been used in the late 90’s. Ridiculous!

          • Mario

            Apr 13, 2013 at 11:58 am

            Adison: They tried to protect Tiger from penalty, then when Tiger spoke of his drop they knew they no longer could protect him as he pretty much bluntly said I broke the rules on tv..

        • Mario

          Apr 13, 2013 at 11:54 am

          In baseball, football, basketball etc. there are refs, or umps that are in charge of the game, (time, penalties, strikes and balls etc) in golf its up the golfers or fellow golfers to govern themselves and as I see it, all people watching are a part of fellow players. I believe Judgment calls are up to the players and fellow competitors, but blunt rules violations are everyone’s call. Golfers unlike any other sport are not playing to bend the rules or violate the rules…

          • Golflaw

            Apr 13, 2013 at 6:06 pm

            Your logic is faulty. The BS about golfers calling on themselves started at a time when there was no tv, was no media, was no crowds and people could cheat with impunity. And at that time balls were of feathers. There is ample opportunity for professional golf to use referees to call a penalty at the time on a player. Every other sport has referees and when they make a mistake such is life. Game stands. The baloney about golfers call penalties on themselves means we let jerks call in from their couch and change the results is another dumb rule that hurts the popularity of golf.

        • Gary Ward

          Apr 13, 2013 at 12:43 pm

          This was not in any way related to people calling in Tiger called it himself at interview!
          The rule 33 changes were brought in to stop players being DQ’d for breaking a rule they could not have been expected to know e.g. a ball moving imperceptably that was only seen by the HD camera that sort of thing not to allow the penalty to be ducked by a guy who broke the rule on purpose because he got it mixed up. The rules about how to drop from a water hazard are very simple it was a school boy error and the rules should be applied, if he wasn’t sure he should have asked.

  20. JL

    Apr 13, 2013 at 10:54 am

    Wow. This happens way too often for him. Shouldn’t he be calling the rules officials over more often? Wasn’t there that sandy lie thing? If he calls them over then it’s their responsibility not his. Guess a stroke or two doesn’t really matter to him in his mind. Don’t even understand why he thought that would even be ok. There should be a 5 foot radius where the ball enters the water where he could drop. Doesn’t make sense for him to have to hit across the water again when it rolled in it from closer to the pin.

    • Bob S

      Apr 13, 2013 at 11:08 am

      Agree completely; given this whole round of golf by all participants was off the charts from time perspective…..it would not have been causing anymore substantial delay to have sought out a rules official and let him/her make the decision as to proper drop point!

  21. TD

    Apr 13, 2013 at 10:48 am

    “I Narc’d on Tiger” T-shirts now available on http://www.mommydidntloveme.com...

  22. Andre

    Apr 13, 2013 at 10:33 am

    This is horse donk. The public shouldn’t be policing the players! Besides, this the masters,there should be a rule official with every group! Had it not been for the public he wouldn’t have been penalized. His intent, wasn’t to take advantage. Under the the hd, rule, he has the right to dq, himself. But how many player unknowingly break a rule, and are penalized because they are not on camera!

    • Mario

      Apr 13, 2013 at 10:44 am

      First off lets not blame the camera’s if it wasn’t for the cameras Tiger Woods wouldn’t be a Millionare and all Golfers wouldn’t be making millions.. So Tiger and the rest of those players can thank every camera man out there. Second is just because you didn’t know you where braking a rule doesn’t mean you should get away with it. Ask Dustin Johnson about that. This is like no other sport and that’s why I love it!!! Its pretty much in black and white and Tiger has been playing by them for years, he has made millions on top of millions because of this game, so in my opinion he should respect this game and its rules and DQ himself…. He owes golf at least that much. The Augusta officials have a different agenda on why he isn’t DQ’ed and its all about the mighty dollar of ratings..

      • LObin

        Apr 13, 2013 at 11:52 am

        Mario, I’ve been reading your comments and I strongly disagree. Refering to the Dustin Johnson’s incident isn’t a good comparaison. Dustin wasn’t DQied. He was assigned a 2 stroke penalty before signing his card, which put him outside of a playoff with Kaymer and Watson. And his case is totally different since he thought it wasn’t a hazard because of all the fans stepping in the “bunker”. Poor job by the rule official and poor job by his caddy (Tiger’s caddie…).
        When that whole sad story happened, the rule 33-7 didn’t exist. Now it does. Should he withdraw because other golfers in the past, prior to the 33-7 rule, got DQied? Eeehhhh… NO!
        AND, the rules official reviewed the play before Tiger signed his card and declared there was no penalty. I read that they changed there mind after someone called because after hearing Tiger’s comment on the play.

      • Andre

        Apr 13, 2013 at 12:02 pm

        Under the drop rule that he thought he was playing. He had the right to drop as far back as he wanted! So his intent wasn’t to cheat! He thought he was playing within the rules! So no I wasn’t in his head. Besides, how many people were around that green? Even his caddy, didn’t realize he was in violation. If it really fair, to dq, someone for something like this? Again, he taking the 2 stroke penalty. Was it fair for Padraig Harrington disqualified for Abu Dhabi error? When picking up his marker? Really?

        • Artie

          Apr 13, 2013 at 12:17 pm

          Correct me if I’m wrong, but he could drop anywhere between where he hit the ball, and where it entered the hazard. Only on a tee shot, can you go back to the tee (or, as far back as he wanted). Am I correct in that, really not sure?

          • Gary Ward

            Apr 13, 2013 at 12:35 pm

            Sorry thats in correct:
            The rule you refer to is only if he keeps the point the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between you and the flag, he chose not to do that he chose to play from where he last played which he has to play as close as possible to, i think Tiger got those two mixed up like you have.
            The far back as possible would have been way to the left of where he hit it from.
            His other option was the drop zone which is smelly so he ruled that out too.
            If rules are unfair then they get changed after not because the guy breaking them is good. Like happened after Harrington and Roe etc

    • Bob S

      Apr 13, 2013 at 11:00 am

      Interesting that you comment on his intent; as if you were in his head! In his post round taped interview; “…two yards further back and took two yards off the shot…” which i am afraid to inform you would under anyone’s definition clearly imply not only his “intent” but his willingness to “take advantage” of the drop!

      • Forsbrand

        Apr 13, 2013 at 12:19 pm

        Did tiger take advantage of a drop a little further back and out of place from where he played his original shot? YES. Did he admit this? YES but did he admit this before he signed his scorecard? Who were the rules officials? Did they have their heads in the sand when tiger was explaining what he did? I ain’t understand what has hanged between tiger explaining it before he signed his iCard and afterwards in the press conference? Surely it’s the same story from tiger? Someone is not playing straight

    • Gary Ward

      Apr 13, 2013 at 12:30 pm

      Andre can i point out politley a few points:
      There is an official with every group Tiger had the option to call and ask which if he had no penalty could be applied
      The public had nothing to do with this it was not a TV viewer that called in as on previous occassions.
      He broke the rule and did exactly what he intended to do i.e move back 2 yards from where he played the original shot, he got 2 simple rules mixed up thinking he could go back on the same line. To me that is not an “exceptional unknowing error” it is ignorance of the rules as such he should be disqualified, shame as i think golf needs an on form Tiger but this hurts him and it hurst golf.

      • Chuck

        Apr 13, 2013 at 2:56 pm

        No. Not at the Masters. There is not a referee with every pairing.

        Tiger knew the rule, and the options. He just got mixed up on how to apply it, with the ball having crossed the margin of the hazard on the other side after careening off the flagstick. That gave him a completely different line to keep between himself and the hole. He didn’t want to go that way. Tiger got mixed up. He was supposed to drop as near to his original spot as possible. From where he wanted to play from, that was the only permissible option.

  23. Big Herm

    Apr 13, 2013 at 10:12 am

    He should be disqualified. He only got two strokes because Augusta is gutless and it’s Tiger Woods. ANYBODY else would be gone from this tournament. Maybe Nike will make a new commercial from this since they support cheaters.

  24. David

    Apr 13, 2013 at 10:05 am

    I hate to say it, because as with many rules in golf, a DQ seems too severe for what Tiger did, but based on how rules have been applied in the past, a DQ is the most appropriate penalty. Once they start making exceptions, the rule is no longer valid. I don’t think that Tiger intentionally broke the rule, but between he, his caddie, and the rules officials, they should not have made this mistake.

    By the way, a two-stroke penalty on a hole where an unlucky break already cost him 1-2 strokes is pretty severe, and Tiger will have to play some great golf to overcome it.

    • rtylerg

      Apr 13, 2013 at 11:00 am

      I completely agree. Where was the caddie? I’m sure Tiger was steamed after hitting the flag stick and then having it go in the water hazard so I can see how his decision could have been an overly-hasty one. His caddie should have huddled him up and gone over the options.

      Also, while I don’t think many things ethically merit a DQ, he should have called over a rules official. It can never hurt to ask and then there can be no questioning the decision. Tiger isn’t the best player in the world for his knowledge of the rules so let someone else handle that.

  25. J

    Apr 13, 2013 at 10:00 am

    This isn’t a PGA ran event. Augusta has discretion over the rules and they get to decide how infractions are handled. Did you all even READ that portion of the article you are commenting on.

    Really…

    • David

      Apr 13, 2013 at 10:11 am

      @J Though you are correct in noting that this is not a PGA event, that in itself would do nothing to dissuade many from believing that the lack of a DQ is playing favorites. The reason that players adhere to a strict interpretation of the rules of golf, whether or not they agree with the rules, is because without that, the integrity of the game comes into question. For The Masters to assess penalties differently than the rules of golf would suggest rightfully calls into question the integrity of this Tournament…especially unexpected at a place where running and wearing your cap backwards draw penalties and stern lectures.

    • Bob S

      Apr 13, 2013 at 10:18 am

      Really…..so let me get to the nuts and bolts of your implication; “this isn’t a PGA ran even. Augusta has discretion over the rules…”…Really!! I not only do not agree with you, but longer range ramifications would be profound for the game!!

      • Artie

        Apr 13, 2013 at 12:13 pm

        Well, for example, the Masters committee could decide to play a different ball – one that doesn’t travel as far, or spin as much, if they wanted to. It’s not a PGA event – they can do as they wish. The fact that it’s a “major” means absolutely nothing. “Major” is a made up term…

      • J

        Apr 13, 2013 at 8:38 pm

        Doesn’t matter if you agree with me or not… Your wrong. Plain and simple. August makes, polices, and enforces the rules of…

        THEIR TOURNAMENT.

        It’s not a hard concept. It is an invitational… You trying to tell me that ” local rules ” don’t apply at a golf course that sets them because the same rule doesn’t apply elsewhere. That, by definition, is golf.

        Through the green at the PGA Campionship…. Does that ring a bell?

        I dislike Tiger too..but that doesn’t mean there is a news story and some conspiracy going on because it was Tiger… Augusta enforced their rules the way they wanted. It’s their show.

        End of story.

    • Kccheadpro

      Apr 13, 2013 at 12:09 pm

      That’s what pathetic, it still is a Major golf tournament and they don’t want to follow the rules of golf. Total garbage.

    • Gary Ward

      Apr 13, 2013 at 12:23 pm

      It may be an Augusta run event in some ways but it is an official professional golf tournament and Augusta do not have the right to change or interpret the rules as they see fit. If they do then it cannot be called a golf tournment!

      • J

        Apr 14, 2013 at 2:15 am

        So Gary… No Local Rules…

        No Through the Green at the PGA Championship…

        Their are local rules in effect at alot of tournaments… Or does that simple and undisputed fact elude you?

  26. Mario

    Apr 13, 2013 at 9:53 am

    This happens to anyone else and they are DQ’ed!!! Tiger needs to do the right thing and DQ himself, I will have a more found respect for him

    • Ryan M

      Apr 13, 2013 at 11:27 am

      That’s ignorant- Rory/Hefty/Bubba Watson/Fred Couples none of them get DQ’d for this either.

    • Marionmg

      Apr 13, 2013 at 4:55 pm

      Anyone else does this and we never even hear/know about it.

  27. Mat

    Apr 13, 2013 at 9:50 am

    They blow the slow play call, but I HATED seeing people DQ’d for stuff. This is a good thing. I still think they should have only 2 hours after the last player signs for the day to make any changes, and only DQ for things in 4th round.

  28. dakota jones

    Apr 13, 2013 at 9:47 am

    Thanks for this article went on here because on golf channel they were not talking about why he was disqualified thanks for the info.

  29. Matt M

    Apr 13, 2013 at 9:46 am

    Can the call in police get out of golf. If no rules officials has problem with drop during the round then that should be final!

    • Mario

      Apr 13, 2013 at 9:51 am

      No body called in, Tiger in a interview admitted to his drop (Dropped to yards behind his original spot) in which was wrong. He didn’t realize it was wrong but that’s besides the point. Tiger didn’t want to brake the rule but he did!!! And the rule of signing the wrong scorecard is a DQ!!!! Tiger cheated unknownly but he cheated regardless….

    • Bob S

      Apr 13, 2013 at 9:52 am

      He didn’t call for the “rules officials” for their assessment; he made the drop decision on his own, later added fuel to fire with his comments as to his intent….should be disqualified!

    • Tservos

      Apr 13, 2013 at 11:09 am

      Seems like he called the penalty on himself.

      I hate the DQ rule.

      I really hate that some expert watching at home can call in a penalty (which apparently didn’t happen in this case)

      But he admitted to not only breaking the rule but that he did it to gain an advantage. He should be DQed and then they need to change the rule.

    • TD

      Apr 13, 2013 at 1:30 pm

      Who are these people that have nothing better to do than call in? Rethoical- I kind of know what type of invididual it is.

    • Golflaw

      Apr 13, 2013 at 4:51 pm

      Agree with you. The golf rule of self reporting made sense when there were no galleries, no tv and no media. The idea that a tour golfer can cheat and not get caught is silly. Another arcane and dumb rule that gets magnified when tv viewers can call in and say they saw something in slow motion. It began with someone calling in that Craig Stadler broke the rule by keeping his pants clean kneeling on a towel. was stupid then and is stupider today. Only sport where there is no referee to call penalties at the time. Imagine a viewer calling in who spotted a holding penalty on a winning touchdown and the next day the NFL changed the winner because the fan was right. At a minimum in major golf tournaments there ought to be a rules official with each group and he/she ought to call the penalty at the time it occurs. Avoids all the silly controversy.

  30. Mario

    Apr 13, 2013 at 9:44 am

    TIGER should be DQ’ed he signed a wrong scorecard.. PGA is playing favorites.. A Rule is a Rule….

    • Forsbrand

      Apr 13, 2013 at 10:33 am

      Absolute disgrace. Golf has sunk to a new low. It’s not tigers fault. But think how bookmakers will feel now? This could really effect sports betting

      • Forsbrand

        Apr 13, 2013 at 10:35 am

        If tiger were to go onto win it would almost certainly tarnish the reputation of Augusts masters . Just think back to the World Matchplay Championship. It was called this although if you were a non managed IMG client you didn’t get to play, which was a bit of a farce in itself. Absolute rubbish, anyo me else and they would be on the next plane home, but Tiger. Gutless PGA

    • Ryan M

      Apr 13, 2013 at 11:26 am

      http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-33/

      Rule 33-7

      33-7. Disqualification Penalty; Committee Discretion

      A penalty of disqualification may in exceptional individual cases be waived, modified or imposed if the Committee considers such action warranted.

      Any penalty less than disqualification must not be waived or modified.

      If a Committee considers that a player is guilty of a serious breach of etiquette, it may impose a penalty of disqualification under this Rule.

      • Chuck

        Apr 13, 2013 at 2:47 pm

        The original post for this thread reads;

        “Instead of disqualifying Woods, or Woods removing himself from the tournament, Masters rules officials have assessed Woods a new two-shot penalty that gives rules officials discretion over rules infractions committed after a player has signed his card.”

        I think that is an incorrect wording. Woods wasn’t penalized under a new rule. The penalty (two shots) was for an incorrect drop. Which is a two-stroke penalty under good old Rule 20-7. Not a new Rule.

        Woods was rescued from a disqualification under a new Rule 33-7. That rule saved Woods from a DQ; it was not the source of the two-stroke penalty.

        I think that Fred Ridley did a pretty good job of explaining the action. He defended the Committee’s explanation very well.

        I also have some sympathy for the position of Brandel Chamblee. Would it be better for Tiger to withdraw? Would it serve the interest of the Masters? Would it enhance Tiger’s long-term reputation? Would it end a disasteful controversy, if Tiger were to win? Would other major champions withdraw?

        I have Tiger in a Masters pool, by the way. It would be in my financial interest for him to win.

        I think that Fred Ridely’s ruling was correct, and I think that Brandel Chamblee is correct when the better thing would be for Tiger to WD.

        • Thomas McAllister

          Apr 14, 2013 at 10:22 pm

          Brandel Chamblee is a Tiger hater, Tiger followed the ruling issued by the Masters Rules Committee and approved by every ruling body in Golf. Tell me how in the hell you think he should WD. He obeyed a ruling period

    • TD

      Apr 13, 2013 at 11:47 am

      A rule is a rule; I agree with Ryan M. & Forsbrand. It’s the people that call in, incorrect scorecard (why have them anymore?) ohh, that leaf moved, etc, etc. It’s that finky attitude that has led to the decline of golf. The purist say that shouldn’t be considered. Well if that was the case, then Augusta, USGA and PGA wouldn’t be teaming up to promote junior golf. If that wasn’t the case, the PGA wouldn’t have gone against the USGA/R&A on belly ban. The committee rendered its decision, based on the revision of the rule.

    • Artie

      Apr 13, 2013 at 12:09 pm

      The committee should have stopped him before he signed his scorecard, if they had an issue. Only when a player signs his card, is he deemed to have broken a rule. Until that time, he can correct the card himself. They reviewed it, and thought it was a legitimate drop. Only after his card was signed, and they heard his comments, did they look into it again. The decision is equitable. Under the rules of golf, the committee has the option of not DQ’ing a player. They exercised that option. Play on.

    • PETER

      Apr 13, 2013 at 5:33 pm

      I agree totality, #1 golfer in the world should know the rules and set example for other golfers. Man up and DQ yourself TIGER WOODS, for the good of the game.

      • Mark

        Apr 13, 2013 at 11:51 pm

        Thank you Peter…..he should have DQ’d himself. I do not buy that he I’d not know the rule……I am a weekend warier and even I know the rule. Bottom line is that he thought he would get by with it….. And he got caught !!!

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Morning 9: Scheffler repeats at Players | Monday PIF meeting | McIlroy takes another shot at Norman

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Monday morning, golf fans, as an exciting final day at the Players Championship saw Scottie Scheffler retain his title.

1. Back to back, X2

Doug Ferguson for AP…”The roar could be heard from a half-mile away just 16 minutes after the final group set out Sunday in the final round of The Players Championship. It was loud enough to indicate something special had happened. The question was more “what” than “who.”

  • “Moments later, Scottie Scheffler’s name appeared on the leaderboard, and he was on his way, adding another layer to his legend as the best in golf.”
  • “His 8-under 64 tied the Players Championship record for best Sunday score by a winner. His five-shot comeback matched another tournament record. And he now stands alone as the only back-to-back champion in 50 years of the PGA Tour’s premier championship.”
  • “It’s tough enough to win one Players,” said Scheffler, who was coming off a five-shot victory last week at Bay Hill. “So to have it back-to-back is extremely special. Yeah, really thankful.”
Full piece.

2. Cantlay confirms Monday meeting

Golfweek’s Adam Woodard…”On Friday, Golfweek was first to report a group of PGA Tour players were nearing a meeting with the head of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in an effort to continue to broker a deal between the Tour and the controversial sovereign wealth fund that has been disrupting men’s professional golf.”

  • “Two sources told Eamon Lynch a meeting was tentatively scheduled for Monday at a private residence in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, following the conclusion of the Players Championship at nearby TPC Sawgrass. Patrick Cantlay, a player director on the PGA Tour policy board, confirmed the meeting with Sports Illustrated on Sunday and tabbed the event as a meet-and-greet.”
  • “Well, I’ve gotta hear out what they have to say, and I will always do my best to represent the entire membership whenever I am in a meeting in that capacity,” Cantlay told SI after his final round at the Players Championship. “I think more information is always better.”
Full piece.

3. Mystery abounds

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard…”It turns out Monday’s expected “secret” meeting between the PGA Tour policy board player directors and the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is even clandestine for those who are being “strongly encouraged” to attend.”

  • “I don’t even think our membership knows anything about a meeting on Monday yet. I don’t know the details of it,” said Peter Malnati, one of the six player directors who would meet with the fund’s governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, on Monday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. “I would rather tell our membership first, but, honestly, I think at this point I probably should have more details because there may be a meeting but I don’t even know. I don’t know where it is or how I’m getting there.”
  • “The possible meeting, which was first reported by Golfweek.com and would take place in a private residence, would be the first time the player directors have met with anyone from the PIF. Malnati said Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has been pushing for a face-to-face meeting between the players and Al-Rumayyan “for months.”
Full piece.

4. McIlroy takes aim at Norman

Jack Milko for SB Nation…”McIlroy still wants to see a deal between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) go through.

But he holds no remorse for LIV Golf’s CEO, Greg Norman.”

  • “They’re a sovereign wealth fund. They want to park money for decades and not worry about it,” McIlroy said of the PIF.
  • “They want to invest in smart and secure businesses, and the PGA Tour is definitely one of those, especially if they’re looking to invest in sport in some way… I have spent time with [PIF Governor] Yasir [al-Rumayyan]. I think the people who have represented him in LIV have done him a disservice, so Norman and those guys.”
  • “Norman has championed LIV Golf’s cause for more than two years now, celebrating its format, players, and how the Saudi-backed circuit continues to ‘change the game.’
Full piece.

5. Boo birds

Bunkered report…”Jay Monahan was booed at The PLAYERS Championship as some golf fans made their feelings clear on the PGA Tour commissioner.

Monahan has been under fire ever since blindsiding his players with a top-secret framework agreement with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund which bankrolls LIV Golf last June.”

  • “He confirmed in his pre-tournament address at TPC Sawgrass that negotiations were “accelerating” with the sovereign wealth fund over a deal to unify the game.”
Full Piece.

6. Scheffler first in money won at The Players

Todd Kelly for Golfweek…”With a first-place prize of $4.5 million on the line, Scheffler came from five shots back on Sunday to win the 2024 Players Championship. And with that, he took over the top spot for most money won in a career at the PGA Tour’s flagship event at TPC Sawgrass.”

  • “Scheffler was previously third all-time at the Players with more than $4.5 million (with most of that earned for winning there in 2023) but now he’s over the $9 million mark.”
  • “He takes over the top spot from Sergio Garcia. Tiger Woods slides from the second to third.”
Full Piece.

7. Winning WITB

*Presented by 2nd Swing*

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (8 degrees @8.25)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (45 inches)

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X

Irons: Srixon ZU85 (3, 4) Buy here, TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW) Buy here.

Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Hybrid Prototype 10 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (50-12F, 56-14F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (60.5-T)

Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Grip: Golf Pride Pro Only

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Full Piece.
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Tour Rundown: Matching luggage for Scheffler

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For those of us from another generation, the disruption of the golf world that we knew well is both exciting and unsettling. The two most potent disruptors are rival golf leagues, not unlike the turmoil seen in the NCAA, and the Anchorman-style gangs of golf reporters. Reconciled to a past era are the dominance of the U.S. PGA Tour and the monthly golf magazines. One element that will not change, at any time in the foreseeable future, however, is the sanctity of the grand slam and golf’s four male major championships. While the LPGA and the PGA Tour Champions have seen a light and added fifth and sixth power titles, the men’s game remains staunchly in the 20th century.

This last topic surges in pertinence each March, just before the playing of The Players Championship. Two camps stake tents and run banners up the poll. One cries out for elevation of the PC to major status, while the other digs a trench around its impregnable quadrilateral. My personal take is this: Every four years since 2016, golf is played at the Olympics. Is Olympic Gold the equivalent of a major title? Yes, it is. It comes around every 1,500 days and brings elite golfers together in competition at the most important athletic event and venue. In my mind, Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele earned major titles in Brazil and Japan, as did Inbee Park and Nelly Korda. As for the Players Championship, why not? The field is stronger by ranking than any major event, and the golf course demands every shot that golfers can create.

The Players Championship is so important to the U.S. PGA Tour that all other tours under its umbrella take the week off. No Korn Ferry, no Tour Champions. The LPGA and the DP World Tour follow suit, which shrinks the amount of watchable golf to two events. On that sour note, let’s run down this week’s play, beginning with the Players Championship and ending with the Asian Tour in Macau.

PGA Tour @ Players Championship: matching luggage for Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler is making a bid to be the player of his generation. From the previous one, a fair number have taken leave from traditional competition. The Johnsons, Koepkas, and Reeds from the 1980s no longer play the events that stand the test of time. The born-in-the-90s generation had its first great champion in Jordan Spieth until he took leave of the senses that brought him to golf’s pinnacle. Spieth’s descent ran opposite Scheffler’s rise.

Scottie Scheffler had won nothing on the PGA Tour until February 13th of 2022. He won on that day in Phoenix, then won three more times by the middle of April. One of those wins was the API at Bay Hill. Last week, Scheffler won for a second time at the Orlando course. Last March, Scheffler won his first Players Championship, by five shots over Tyrrell Hatton. On Sunday, Scheffler dived headfirst into a cauldron of fierce competition. Facing challenges from Olympic champion Schauffele, Open champion Brian Harmon, and U.S. Open champion  Wyndham Clark, Scheffler breathed. As the only man to reach 20 under par, he earned a second consecutive title at Sawgrass and reminded us that it has been two years since he won the Masters and that he is on a tear.

It all began at the fourth on Sunday for Scheffler. After pars at the opening three holes, Scheffler’s driving wedge from 92 yards landed 20 feet shy of the hole, took one large bounce, then spun left, trickling into the hole for eagle. He followed that incantation with another birdie, then two pars. The stretch from 8 to 12 was where the champion made a statement. His quartet of birdies over that run, brought him to 19-under par and let the pursuing pack know that even lower than the winning 17 under in 2023 would be necessary.

And the trio was game. Harman and Clark both dipped below 70, to reach 19 under at the final pole. Schauffele could not find a similar gear and closed with 70 — 69 would have earned him a playoff with Scheffler. It was the extra gear, the ability to go low when all things mattered, that eleveated the now two-time champion to the top of the podium. In five of his eight tour wins, Scheffler has posted a sub-70 round on day four, and four of those have been 67 or lower.

With elegant precision, Scheffler applied the final thrust at the par-5 16th. He played safely away from Pete’s Pond on the right, into the left greenside bunker at the back of the putting surface. His bunker shot was thing of exquisite accuracy, trickling to a planned stop about 20 inches from the hole. The birdie concluded matters and rang the sort of bell that Dye courses tend to display.

Asian Tour @ International Series Macau: Catlin earns playoff victory

There are two sorts of golfers that compete on the Asian Tour, which makes no secret of its alliance with the LIV. The first are the AT stalwarts, the ones who play as golfers have always played, with little guarantee and much pride. The others are the ones who compete on the LIV, eschewing both risk and pride for the guaranteed payday. Their deal costs them world ranking points, so they play in AT events, hoping to qualify for golf’s major events.

This week in Macau, one of those LIV golfers shot 60 on Sunday and did not win the tournament. Hard to believe, you say? Aye, but when another golfer shoots 59 in the third round, follows it up with a 65 on day four, then makes overtime birdie twice at the par-five closer, the razor’s edge of great golf is sharpened. Thus did it happen with American John Catlin and Spaniard David Puig.

It was Catlin who signed for 59, and it took a twisting, eagle putt at the last to enshrine the first-ever, sub-60 on the Asian Tour. It was Puig who closed the gap on Sunday with a 60 of his own, which featured a bogey at the lengthy fifth hole, but was followed by seven birdies and an eagle over the next 13 holes. Catlin had a six-feet putt for the regulation win, but missed. In extra time, Puig nearly holed for eagle at 18, then tapped in for birdie. Catlin’s second danced along the OOB perimeter, before ending on an access road. His drop and pitch left him another six feet to remain alive, and this time, he converted.

At the second go-round of the par-5 finisher, Puig found the green in two, but took three putts from nearly 50 feet. Catlin confronted another challenging pitch for his third, and once again, his wedge game won the day. He tapped in for birdie and the win.

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Morning 9: Rory, Xander, Clark share Players lead | Rory on controversial drop | AK misses Macau cut

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Friday morning, golf fans, as day two of the Players Championship gets underway from TPC Sawgrass!

1. McIlroy grabs share of the lead

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach…”Despite hitting two tee shots into the water and being at the center of a controversial drop after the second one, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy opened the 50th Players Championship with a 7-under 65 to grab a share of the first-round lead Thursday.”

  • “McIlroy, the 2019 Players Championship winner, was tied atop the leaderboard with Xander Schauffele and reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, who had much more uneventful opening rounds at TPC Sawgrass.”
Full piece.

2. Xander and Clark also fire 65

Ali Stafford for Sky Sports…“Schauffele, playing in the group ahead of McIlroy, charged up the leaderboard with five birdies in a six-hole stretch around the turn to make a bogey-free start to the week and set the initial clubhouse target.”

  • “The pair held a share of the lead until Clark produced a spectacular back-nine birdie run, where he rolled in from 20 feet at the 15th before taking advantage of the par-five next and birdied the 17th to join the group on seven under.”
Full piece.

3. McIlroy drop debate

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”McIlroy rinsed two tee balls into the water, the first at TPC Sawgrass’ par-4 18th hole and the second on the par-4 seventh. While the former prompted some discussion, the latter produced an especially lengthy back-and-forth between McIlroy and the other two players, as the trio spent more than eight minutes trying to determine where McIlroy should drop.”

  • “Initially, the walking ESPN+ reporter said that McIlroy’s caddie, Harry Diamond, said that McIlroy’s ball “absolutely” hit above the red penalty line before kicking into the water left of a long fairway bunker. The one television camera angle showed McIlroy’s ball clearly bouncing once, though it was unclear where exactly it pitched.”
  • “That’s an emphatic 250-yard difference,” an announcer said of where McIlroy was looking to drop, and where he’d have to drop, had his ball not crossed in play.”
  • “It bounced into the water but we were just trying to make sure that it was above the red line,” McIlroy shouted over to his playing competitors, who were inquiring about his thought process.”
Full piece.

4. Beall: Time for a different system?

Golf Digest’s Joel Beall…”Reputations in golf are a fickle thing, and to compromise them for what may or may not have happened hundreds of yards away is an avoidable gamble. Perhaps McIlroy should have been more open to what his opponents were saying, yet there’s a case that he shouldn’t have had to defend himself in the first place; that should have fallen to a rules official. And the current system isn’t just failing the player whose score is in question. It shouldn’t fall to opponents to police the field, for that responsibility can put them in awkward, uncomfortable positions that can simultaneously put them in an unfavorable light.”

  • “Just because this is how golf has always done it doesn’t mean it has to be this way in perpetuity. It’s a change easier said than done, one that requires more rules officials and more cameras, two resources that are not in plentiful supply. But this week the PGA Tour is returning its Every Shot At broadcast option and its new television center opens up a world of possibility for how the tour is watched … and in some cases, reviewed.”
  • “Much of the conversation this week has been about the tour product, specifically, how it can be enhanced and refined. But the tour’s primary product is its players, and what the tour wants to improve also needs to be protected. In this case, that means protecting them from themselves. Something so valuable shouldn’t be vulnerable to five minutes.”
Full piece.

5. Tom Kim out with illness

Golf Channel report…”Tom Kim withdrew Thursday after eight holes of the opening round of The Players Championship. The PGA Tour sent out a social media post citing an unspecified illness as the reason.”

  • “Kim, who started on the back nine on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, was 5 over par at the time, including two bogeys and a triple bogey.”
Full Piece.

6. Owen Wilson poised to play golf’s Ted Lasso

Hollywood Reporter…”The streamer behind Ted Lasso has placed a series order for a show starring Owen Wilson as a former pro golfer who needs to get his life back in order. The Loki star will also be an executive producer of the untitled series, which comes from Apple Studios and creator Jason Keller (Ford v. Ferrari).

  • “Wilson will play Pryce Cahill, whose golf career ended prematurely 20 years ago. After he gets fired from his job at a sporting goods store in Indiana and his wife leaves him, Pryce sees a troubled 17-year-old golf phenom as his way back.”
Full Piece.

7. AK one of five to miss Macau cut

Paul Higham for Golf Monthly…”Although he was four shots better in his second round, Anthony Kim still came unstuck at the International Series in Macau as he missed his first professional cut in 12 years.”

  • “Kim was one of 21 LIV Golf League stars teeing it up at Macau Golf & Country Club, and one of five to miss the cut along with Harold Varner, Danny Lee, Eugenio Chacarra and Graeme McDowell.”
  • “The American improved from his opening 74 with a second-round 70, but still finished on four over which saw him miss the cut by eight shots.”
Full Piece.

8. Best Driver 2024 is live now on GolfWRX

What’s the best driver of 2024? This year, to answer that question, we have expanded our panel of expert fitters to help you find which of the 2024 drivers is best for your game, breaking down the candidates by clubhead speed.

Full Piece.

9. Photos from The Players

  • Check out all of our galleries from TPC Sawgrass!
Full Piece.
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