Opinion & Analysis

Points’ DQ rekindles debate about severity of the rules of golf

Published

10 years ago

Feb 8, 2014

In what seems to be an accelerating rash of notable player dismissals from PGA Tour events, D.A. Points was disqualified from the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for practicing with a training aid during the course of play. The infraction was clear — Points, who won the event in 2011, can be clearly seen on the TV replay taking practice swings with a green foam ball in his right armpit—and the penalty was absolute: immediate disqualification from the event according to Rule 14-3.

14-3. Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment And Unusual Use Of Equipment

“…Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment (see Appendix IV for detailed specifications and interpretations), or use any equipment in an unusual manner:

a. That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play; or

b. For the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play; or

c. That might assist him in gripping the club, except that:

(i) gloves may be worn provided that they are plain gloves;

(ii) resin, powder and drying or moisturizing agents may be used; and

(iii) a towel or handkerchief may be wrapped around the grip.

Exceptions:

1. A player is not in breach of this Rule if (a) the equipment or device is designed for or has the effect of alleviating a medical condition, (b) the player has a legitimate medical reason to use the equipment or device, and (c) theCommittee is satisfied that its use does not give the player any undue advantage over other players.

2. A player is not in breach of this Rule if he uses equipment in a traditionally accepted manner.”

To Points’ credit, he accepted full responsibility for the gaffe. He will also honor his partnership in this year’s event with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. So he is teeing it up in Saturday’s round, even though his chance at any piece of the tournament purse is now zero.

Points won the 2011 AT&T National Pro-Am and he and partner Bill Murray captured the team title. Murray is away this year and Points is not going to make it to Sunday in 2014.

Unlike some other high-profile Rules situations of the past year (e.g., Tiger Woods’ ruling at the 2013 Masters), that the penalty ultimately given out was in accordance with the Rules is in absolutely no doubt. Instead, debate has resurfaced about whether the penalty associated with this rule is more stringent than necessary.

On Morning Drive Saturday morning, hosts Charlie Rymer, Gary Williams, Damon Hack and Holly Sonders took up the issue. Rymer, the only one in the foursome who has ever been on Tour, found himself the lone supporter of a relaxed penalty in this case, likening Points’ punishment to a case of jaywalking receiving the death penalty. It is hyperbole, sure, but Rymer’s case is worth consideration due to his uncommon (in golf) experience and perspective. He played for a number of years for a great deal of money and now has a unique opportunity to reflect back on it with an analytic journalistic eye.

Damon Hack, a former writer for Sports Illustrated and The New York Times, shook his head, calling Rymer’s defense “a slippery slope” and found agreement and support from co-host Gary Williams, who had a brief stint as a golf teaching pro before embarking on a radio career that led him to his current post.

Rymer continued, “There’s too much at stake to send players home over minor Rules infractions,” to which Williams retorted that professional golfers ought to know what can and cannot get them penalized in or disqualified from a given tournament.

The Rules of Golf are notoriously long and complicated. Part of this is unavoidable — the “field of play” in golf is so large and variable one day to the next that an enormous number of possible situations need to be considered and covered. When large professional purses are at stake, it is certainly incumbent on players to navigate the course within the Rules, but the recent spate of notable transgressions raises a legitimate concern about their complexity.

Those who fancy themselves custodians of golf are on a stated mission to try to increase participation in the game. All facets, then, should be up for investigation, even the Rules. No one aims to neuter the essential challenge or traditional nature of the game, but it is understandable that there may sometimes appear a disconnect between the game played for millions of dollars and the one played for a $1 Nassau elsewhere every day. How many players are unwittingly breaking a relatively esoteric Rule right now? Some are probably doing it in competition, with no cameras around.

Completely overhauling the Rules of Golf is certainly not necessary at this time. But accepting them as immutable does not exactly mesh with the increasingly popular notion that golf needs to become more innovative in order to appeal to more players and retain relevance as a great pastime for the masses. If former players like Rymer are calling for a bit of reform, it is important to listen to their concerns rather than dismiss them out of hand.

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Tim Gavrich

Tim grew up outside of Hartford, Conn., playing most of his formative golf at Hop Meadow Country Club in the town of Simsbury. He played golf for four years at Washington & Lee University (Division-III) and now lives in Pawleys Island, S.C., and works in nearby Myrtle Beach in advertising. He's not too bad on Bermuda greens, for a Yankee. A lifelong golf addict, he cares about all facets of the game of golf, from equipment to course architecture to PGA Tour news to his own streaky short game.

58 Comments

Dennis Clark

Feb 12, 2014 at 10:09 pm

The players should have their caddies attend rules seminars, perhaps get certified. the top guys can afford tihis easily.

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James at Putter Lounge

Feb 12, 2014 at 2:17 pm

This is one that he should have known and he needs to know the consequence. The rules of golf need to be overarching on a topic, it is the players responsibility to know what is within the scope of the rule. It’s not realistic to have exceptions as many violations of the rules can have a valid reason why you did something wrong. Know the rules, it’s that simple. Otherwise, we have a rule book that would be over 1000 pages long.

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PA PLAYA

Feb 12, 2014 at 1:37 pm

It is amazing that myself and everyone I play with on a regular basis at the club level knows and understands this rule, yet a touring professional who plays the sport for his livelihood does not. I’m guessing it was nothing more than a brainfart…

Sure, the USGA could rewrite and reword the rules for simplification, but that only helps those who take the time to study and learn them. It won’t fix carelessness and an incredible lack of attention to detail.

Reply Report comment
LY

Feb 12, 2014 at 1:25 pm

I would want my professional caddie to know some of the rules just to make sure that I would not do something stupid in the heat of the moment.

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ray

Feb 12, 2014 at 12:30 pm

If D.A. used a towel under his armpit for practice during the touranament round, would it count as a violation??

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Robeli

Feb 10, 2014 at 10:13 am

The PGA should start acting more like the ‘P’ in their name and not like old Tom Morris would have done. They are quick to say players should govern themselves when it comes to the rules (in the spirit of golf), but quickly like to be policemen, judge and executor. PGA has a ton of money and can do better job by assigning PGA official walking with every group.
Or, if they do want to act like old Tom Morris, next time Mr. PGA rules official, if a player violates a rule and the player do nothing, just ‘report’ the issue and let the player decide by himself what he is going to do. That will quickly sort out the ‘cheaters’ and ‘rules slackers’ you will see how quickly some players will be isolated from the rest. The players will then become more knowledgeable of the rules and will enforce more rule callings on themselves. Believe me, it works. I follow it with my weekend buddies and you quickly determine the list of golfers you like to play with and those you avoid at all cost. If I see a rule violation within my group, I just inform them in a nice manner of what happened and let the player make the decision.

Reply Report comment
- Fred
  
  Feb 15, 2014 at 4:54 pm
  
  Obviously, D.A. should have known about such a common sense rule – I mean, a training aide on the course? But, that said, if he had had any question as to whether it was legal to do so or not, there should have been a “rules” official there on the spot that D.A. could have referred to. The officials are paid to know the rules; the caddies are not – even though many of the veterans do. That’s why they officials are there – to enforce the rules and make certain the pros adhere to them. If the guy making millions is depending on the caddie making 10% to know the rules, then he’d better up the caddy’s percentage to 20%. Either that, or start putting the bags on the shoulders of the officials. Bottom line: yes, we need officials to accompany every group.
  
  Reply Report comment
RG

Feb 9, 2014 at 11:29 pm

Hello! Earth to Everybody! It’ 2014 not 1914! Why are professional golfers still in charge of keeping their on scores? It’s not like they’re out on the course by themselves, at least 30 million people are watching can’t some of them keep score and just let the guys play golf? Why is it also that millions is paid in prize money but nothing is paid for rules officials? Every group should have a rules official hat caries a video camera and we wouldn’t have these problems. It’s archaic, idiotic and Ludacris to continue this way. Every spectator at the event has a video camera in their pocket why don’t the officials? Why aren’t they using those tools to show the players what they did?Why are they repeatedly retroactive instead of proactive?
THE USGA PREFERS PUNISHENT TO PREVENTION!!

Reply Report comment
- Fred
  
  Feb 15, 2014 at 4:58 pm
  
  If a spectator at a professional event is spotted with a camera, iPhone or even, yes, a video camera, they’re asked to put them away. Asked a second time, and marshals may actually take them away.
  
  Reply Report comment
corey

Feb 9, 2014 at 9:36 pm

am i the only one that sees a big difference from dropping a ball a yard out of place and someone using a training aid. yes in the grand scheme both are rule violations. but professional golfers rely on their practice during a tournament to make money. you practice so things become routine. for a pro, one thing might not be clicking just right during a round but if he had his training aid then he could fix it. but you don’t have your training aid, you finish the round then go work on it afterwards on the range. IMO dropping 1 yard away from 100 yards out is not as severe is a pro practicing his swing on the course with the help of a training aid so he can be better on every shot after

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- corey
  
  Feb 9, 2014 at 9:37 pm
  
  sorry for all the grammar mistakes, typed fast while on the toilet
  
  Reply Report comment
- RanchoBob
  
  Feb 10, 2014 at 6:56 pm
  
  But Tiger freely admitted that he dropped out of place on purpose to assist his play of the shot. It wasn’t, “I accidentally dropped too far back.”
  
  Yes, most of us can’t see a difference between 101 yards and 100, but “these guys are good.”
  
  They both unknowingly broke the rules and got penalized, though Tiger got a hall pass.
  
  Reply Report comment
Martin Chuck

Feb 9, 2014 at 1:23 pm

Sorry, Professionals SHOULD know better. Stupid rule, but it pertains to everyone and everyone playing at any kind of high level should know what to do. Same as DJ’s F’up at the PGA a few years ago. They couldn’t have been more clear about the “1000 bunkers” and to treat all as such. Anyway, sad to see him DQ’d.

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Scott

Feb 9, 2014 at 9:29 am

It is essentially the same as how Rickie was tucking his shirt into his armpit for feedback. The rules are too vague to be taken so strictly.

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David Sefton

Feb 9, 2014 at 4:30 am

Using an artificial device has an impact on the rest of the round. Correcting a swing fault using an artificial device deserves disqualification.

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- Todd Dugan
  
  Feb 9, 2014 at 9:11 am
  
  Points was NOT disqualified for using an aid. He was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. That’s a BIG difference. This rule should be changed to allow for a retroactive adjustment to the score, so long as the player was not aware of the breach at the time. I think the USGA will do the right thing on this one at the next rules summit.
  
  The bigger issue here is not that the rules of golf are too complicated, but rather, that almost nobody who plays this game has made any real effort to learn the rules. These are the same people who complain that the rules are to complicated.
  
  Also, Points CAN still earn prize money for the team portion of the tournament.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - mick
    
    Feb 9, 2014 at 9:35 am
    
    This is incorrect. Any violation of 14-3 results in automatic disqualification. Penalty strokes would not have applied in this situation.
    
    Still a dumb rule.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - tim
    
    Feb 9, 2014 at 9:28 pm
    
    You clearly did not read the article
    dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum
    
    Reply Report comment
- Wisconsin Terrapin
  
  Feb 12, 2014 at 12:16 pm
  
  This is the 2nd DQ for a training aid. DJ and the LPGA DQ both occurred while dealing with an excessive waits at a t-box. Standing around for 10 minutes or more waiting to play, I could lose my good presence of mind and inadvertently pull out something I always stretch with.
  “While we’re young” and a 4 hour round would solve these infractions – or allow warm-up tools if left on a t-box for more than 5-8 minutes. One of these is the right answer.
  
  Reply Report comment
paul

Feb 9, 2014 at 12:08 am

When playing with friends we just put two extra strokes on the score card for just about everything. And everything seems to work out fine. O.B. Lost to a hazard, doesn’t matter, two strokes. We don’t carry a rule book. If there is a rule that we know, we use it. But if we don’t know, two more strokes. Next shot. Speeds things up as well.

Reply Report comment
- OM
  
  Feb 9, 2014 at 2:27 am
  
  But with millions of dollars not at stake, what you do with your friends at the bar afterwards wouldn’t have to be considered PROFESSIONAL so nobody cares what you do in this case.
  
  Reply Report comment
Robeli

Feb 8, 2014 at 10:59 pm

Yea, Tiger violates a rule which states if you violates it your are DQ’d, but does not not because he is Tiger, but DA violates one and gets DQ’d. Nice double standards.

Reply Report comment
- OM
  
  Feb 9, 2014 at 2:27 am
  
  Exactly.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Happyday_J
  
  Feb 9, 2014 at 10:39 am
  
  COMPLETELY different scenario, its getting pretty ridiculous people taking shots at tiger over this master’s ruling, and Im not even a die hard Tiger fan. People need to gain an understanding of the rules before taking shots. The rules of golf are governed by the rules, and enforced by the committee (at tournaments). It says in the rule book that any decision by the committee is absolute.
  
  What happened with tiger is that the committee reviewed the tape of tigers drop at the masters prior to signing his scorecard. This was done so he would not be disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard by not having the 2 stroke penalty. The committee ruled that he did not do anything wrong and thus no 2 shot penalty, tiger than signed his scorecard, that is a ruling the committee made it was what stood. After the interview tiger did, the COMMITTEE realized that they were the one who made the mistake, tiger did break the rule, which they had deemed was okay. Had the committee realized it prior to signing the card, it would of been a 2 shot penalty added, and no issues. But because the committee goofed it up, and had to reimplement a 2 shot penalty, why should tiger be penalized for signing an incorrect scorecard, thus disqualified, when the committee said is was okay originally? So the committee gave a ruling of a 2 shot penalty as the infraction required, but no disqualification for signing an incorrect scorecard.
  
  Completely two different situations and I really wish people would let this whole tiger thing go, as someone who has taken and passed the rules of golf module, ppl should look things up and understand it before throwing accusations around. This isnt a shot at you, so dont take it personally, this an explanation to all those of similar mindset, so I apologize if this seem like a pot shot at you, as it wasnt but this has got to go.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Robeli
    
    Feb 9, 2014 at 2:23 pm
    
    Different scenario, yes, but same principle. I bet you, if this was Tiger and not DA, Tiger would have been ‘slapped’ with only 2 strokes and not DG’d and carried on playing the weekend.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Happyday_J
      
      Feb 9, 2014 at 6:47 pm
      
      Nope…. because the rules infraction that tiger broke was a 2 shot penalty. DAs infraction is automatic disqualification. Two different rules with two different punishments. They would not of changed the punishments for two different players, come on. I know there are people that are sick and tired of the treatment that tiger gets, but remember, its from the media, not the people within the tour.
      
      Reply Report comment
  - RanchoBob
    
    Feb 10, 2014 at 7:02 pm
    
    The thing about the Tiger drop that won’t go away is that the committee decided that his drop was within range of error and decided not to approach him about it. That suggests that in the committee’s mind it was not a deliberate effort to not drop in the same spot.
    
    After the round and after signing his scorecard, Tiger freely admitted that he did it on purpose and subsequently got slapped with a two stroke penalty.
    
    Should the committee have gone and asked him, “Hey, did you deliberately not drop as close as possible to the spot of the previous shot?” Yeah, maybe they should have.
    
    But it’s not like it’s a difficult or ambiguous rule. There are plenty of places where the rules are somewhat esoteric and subject to interpretation and that’s what the Decisions book is for. But “as near as possible” is pretty definitive and hard to screw up unless you like to play fast and loose with the rules.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Happyday_J
      
      Feb 11, 2014 at 10:20 am
      
      And I completely agree with you, the committee decided that the drop was okay. So they made the mistake and were forced to back peddle and make it right. Did tiger break the rule, no doubt, did he knowingly, clearly not based on his interview afterwards, he mistaken the point the ball last crossed the hazard.
      
      He went under the option of taking the point where the ball crossed the hazard going back as far as he’d like keeping the flag stick in line, but because the ball hit the flag stick and bounced back the point of entry was on the left side of the green. He proceeded under how it would of been had the ball gone in the hazard on the line he was hitting on, not factoring in the ball hitting the flagstick and going in on a different line, and in the heat of the moment, a mistake we all could of made.
      
      Reply Report comment
    - Happyday_J
      
      Feb 11, 2014 at 10:23 am
      
      So with the committee clearing him, and then realizing they made a mistake upon hearing what he said in his interview, they needed to back peddle to make it right. Well had they just implemented the rule, tiger would of been disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard, which would of been ludicrous, b.c the committee had originally told him he was okay.
      
      So the manner in which they did it, 2 stroke penalty, no disqualification was the right call, and people need to stop throwing stones at tiger (and this is coming from a non die hard tiger fan), because it was the committee that made the major error and needed to make it right.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Robeli
        
        Feb 11, 2014 at 6:19 pm
        
        You are correct on your analysis, but as Faldo and Chamblee said that next morning, taking all this info into consideration and as the rules said ‘in the spirit of golf’, Tiger should have been a man and realized the committee screw it up for him and in essence, he (Tiger), should have dq’d himself as the rule states. That is the bottom line. Tiger showed he has no integrity and trust.
        
        Reply Report comment
      - Happyday_J
        
        Feb 11, 2014 at 9:12 pm
        
        I disagree with what faldo and chamblee said, and I will quote what nicklaus said as I feel he said it best:
        “People say, `Should Tiger have withdrawn himself?’ I don’t think so at all,” Nicklaus said. “If Tiger did that, he’d be putting himself in a position of saying, `I’m above the rules.’ You accept the ruling whether it’s good or bad for you.”
        
        Read more: http://www.golf.com/ap-news/nicklaus-ruling-correct-woods-augusta#ixzz2t4NCDu50
        
        Had he of done that, people would of made the claim, the he undermined the committee and is above the rules. Its just like a speeding ticket, you get your ticket accept your punishment and move on. The ruling bodies issued his penalty and hes to accept it, that if anything shows more integrity as he took all that on the nose and moved on, amongst the noise such as your point, where as withdrawing and leaving would of been the easy way out.
        
        Reply Report comment
- The Tufted Puffin
  
  Feb 12, 2014 at 11:37 am
  
  I do not see a double standard. DA broke a rule that mandates immediate and automatic DQ. Tiger made a bad drop which called for a 2 stroke penalty, not an automatic DQ. The Rules Committee reviewed the drop and stupidly determined it was ok without first gathering the facts by both reviewing the video AND taking to the player. The Committee screwed up which saved Tiger. He got the 2 stroke penalty but the Committee couldn’t DQ him for their mistake.
  
  Reply Report comment
roger

Feb 8, 2014 at 6:45 pm

I think a 2 stroke penalty for 1st violation in a round DQ for 2nd would be a better penalty. What I wonder is putting a towel or head cover under his arm, would this be “use any equipment in an unusual manner”.

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Rich

Feb 8, 2014 at 6:37 pm

The rules of golf do not need overhalling or examination. None of the rules infractions referred to in this article or notable others from 2013 were “complex” in nature. Golf Pro’s need to learn the rules. It’s as simple as that. Don’t want to learn the rules, don’t complain when you get disqualified or penalised, or don’t play golf.

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Chuck

Feb 8, 2014 at 5:08 pm

So my understanding is that a violation of Rule 14-3 is two strokes. Not disqualification.

The reason that D.A. Points was disqualified was that he had signed an incorrect card, as a result of his not knowing/not being informed promptly of the rules violation involving the device.

So, no, people; this was not an unreasonably drastic penalty by the book. It should have been a 2-stroke penalty. It’s too bad that there wasn’t a quicker and easier way for a knowledgeable golf observer to get word to the tournament officials earlier, before Points signed an incorrect card.

And it is a rule that Points should have known; I know it.

One lesson is simply to leave all of the swing-improvement and teaching gizmos out of the bag when you are on the course playing a tournament round.

Had Points left the sponge-ball back in his locker, and instead used his hat or a glove tucked under his right arm to do what he did, he’d have been okay.

Reply Report comment
- gr8slice
  
  Feb 8, 2014 at 5:17 pm
  
  Chuck, PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-3:
  
  Disqualification.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Chuck
    
    Feb 8, 2014 at 6:13 pm
    
    I was looking at the 14-2 penalty right above Rule 14-3 in my Decsions book by mistake.
    
    My bad; I thank you for the correction.
    
    I was hunting for an applicable Decision on what Points could legally have done. Decision 14-3/6.5 seems to be the one. Points could have used a golf ball tucked under his arm pit. Or, I think, any item of apparel. I suspect a towel could be used but I am not sure.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - gr8slice
      
      Feb 8, 2014 at 6:50 pm
      
      14-3/10 applies better than 14-3/6.5 but reallly 14-3 is the rule and applies by itself without a decison needed. He could have used ball, towel, headcover, club any piece of normal golf equipment and wouldn’t have had any issues.
      
      Reply Report comment
    - Cef
      
      Feb 8, 2014 at 7:35 pm
      
      Wow, how could such a knowledgeable guy like you err such a simple golf rule? Maybe you misinterpreted the rule book, or maybe you didn’t have the benefit of the Decisions book? Oh, wait…maybe the rules are not so simple after all.
      
      Reply Report comment
- Barry
  
  Feb 8, 2014 at 6:09 pm
  
  Chuck,
  You’re a misinformed blow-hard.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jason Sobal

Feb 8, 2014 at 4:47 pm

So we should change the rules? Wouldn’t that lead to more confusion and slow the game down even more. Every time a tour player calls an official over the game slows down more and more. I can never understand why a professional golfer with a caddy needs a rules official to figure out a drop off a cart path.

If the problem of slow play were addressed D.A. probably would not have had the time to break the rule. I’m guessing he was bored after playing a 5+ hour round and had a brief mental lapse.

I did not realize there was an accelerating rash of notable player dismissals. I have noticed an accelerating rash of media/journalists covering the game. Why do I care what Damon Hack and Gary Williams think? The Golf Channel has evolved into a channel with more analysts than actual stories.

Reply Report comment
- gr8slice
  
  Feb 8, 2014 at 4:52 pm
  
  They do it mainly because they don’t want some idiot calling in questioning them about the drop. The slow play on tour is a huge issue and the only way for them to correct it, is to start giving out shots and continue to give out shots. And everyone is a rules officail now a days lol.
  
  Reply Report comment
gr8slice

Feb 8, 2014 at 4:37 pm

The penalty DA got was absurd, he could have used his towel, headcover, ball and no big deal but a green nerf ball and he’s gone. That is overkill, if anything 1 or 2 shots is enough for that ruling. Hence why the rules need to be revamped. There are many things you can do with equipment on hand but not with training aids that do the exact same thing. Alignment sticks vs club for alignment looks, but use the sticks and you’re gone. And most have them in their bag on the course. Just dumb!!!
The rules of golf have 28 rules of golf, 4 for other forms of play and 2 for administration for a total of 34 rules with 90 sub sections for a total of 124 basic rules with a few more variations. Now throw in 1253 or so decisions you have a total of 1377 plus variations. And they say the rules are simple. The rules of golf need to be overhauled to make the game fun and simple for people to play. Very few sports have the same set of rules for all levels of play. The rules need to be changed for the masses and for tournament golf whether it is a different set for the USGA and R & A vs the PGA and the PGA Tour is something each group needs to decide and make.
For the masses get rid of stroke and distance rules, the one club or two club drop, let them ground their club in a bunker etc. things to make it simple and easy for all to play and grow the game, It’s just time for a change, make a different set of rules for all levels of play. Thoughts?

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Ryan Bolin

Feb 8, 2014 at 4:23 pm

There should be two rules that matter when considering disqualification. 1. Play it as it lies, and (2) Count every stroke. This is just silly.

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Birdman

Feb 8, 2014 at 3:53 pm

Amazing, most of the comments on here show a fundamental lack of knowledge of the game of golf. Why is getting more idiots playing golf good for the game?

Reply Report comment
- JHM
  
  Feb 8, 2014 at 6:35 pm
  
  because without them you non idiots would have to pay $500 green fees to cover the cost f runnig a course.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Ken
  
  Feb 9, 2014 at 8:11 am
  
  It’s not so much that people are as ignorant as you think, it’s that this game and its rules have been tweaked for hundreds of years. Some rules just seem over the top harsh. Years ago center shafted putters were illegal because Walter Travis was putting lights out…not now! Several players have mentioned the unfairness of having to play a shot out of a divot. That seems unfair to tournament leaders on a Sunday afternoon when those same divots weren’t around earlier. Criticize everyone else, but rules have changed … More will change.
  
  Reply Report comment
D Louis

Feb 8, 2014 at 3:43 pm

Another nail in the coffin of golf

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Ken

Feb 8, 2014 at 3:07 pm

This seems more like a one stroke penalty than total DQ! A couple of years ago, Fuzzy showed a journalist how to hit a shot between holes … Penalized. This stuff seems like minutia. The USGA and the R & A are tougher than OJ’s jury.

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Randy R

Feb 8, 2014 at 2:53 pm

Golf is the only sport I know that rulings are changed after the fact. Many, many times you see incorrect calls or bad calls and the outcome isn’t changed.

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Steve Gregg

Feb 8, 2014 at 2:46 pm

Great article, but less obvious effort to impress your audience with your grammar would be in your best interest. Not to mention making for a far easier read. Analytic journalistic? Spate of notable transgressions? An esoteric rule? First rule of journalism: Create a favorable atmosphere for your readers! Who you trying to impress? Your writing is more of a rules infraction than what was committed by Mr. Points!!

Reply Report comment
Daniel Bailey

Feb 8, 2014 at 2:31 pm

And…. this is why Golf is on the decline! The rules of golf MUST be simplified, and less become less complex. The fact he was DQ’d for what he did is simply ridiculous. The PGA should ashamed of themselves.

Reply Report comment
- Mizzy
  
  Feb 8, 2014 at 5:18 pm
  
  This would not rank in the top 5 reasons golf is on the decline. Calling someone on this infraction during a Sunday game with friends would be completely excessive.
  
  However, calling a professional on this during a match with a multi-million dollar purse, is completely justified. Imagine if a police officer forgot to Mirandize his suspect? There would be a mistrial and the culprit would walk regardless of innocence or guilt.
  
  Act like a professional and know the rules. If the penalty for the infraction changes, then so be it, but a player not knowing the rules at the highest level is negligence.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Cef
    
    Feb 8, 2014 at 7:42 pm
    
    We all want to play the game of golf by the rules. If you feel it excessive amongst friends but not with professionals, do you then favor bifurcation? Excessive applies to all, including my enemies ;-).
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Ponjo
      
      Feb 11, 2014 at 5:38 pm
      
      Worst rule in golf is having to take a penalty drop from a bunker that is totally flooded.
      
      Reply Report comment
  - ski_co
    
    Feb 12, 2014 at 11:18 am
    
    As a professional if you do not know the rules you can ask for a rules official at any time. Rules may seem dumb now but most likely when the rule was created it clarified something that was being abused.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Bruce
    
    Feb 12, 2014 at 11:57 am
    
    Well said. If I possessed the skills to play for $1 million + every week, you can bet BOTH my caddy and I would also KNOW the rules of the game. The players have the responsibility to know the game AND they have a caddy for an assistant. If they cannot learn the rules, then select a caddy who does know.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Bill
  
  Feb 24, 2014 at 6:21 pm
  
  The DQ for what Points did seem excessive to me. A two stroke penalty if the infraction is caught at the time seems appropriate. If it’s not, then move on and correct him post round. I hate that fans can call in and the infraction can be applied later. This isn’t about Points or Tiger…Tigers infraction seems far more serious, an attempt to circumvent the rules intentionally. Knowing the rules is important. Having officials available to consult is important. But the infraction needs to be brought to the officials attention by the players opponent or the official watching that group, not Joe Sixpack in his recliner.
  
  Reply Report comment

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans betting preview

Published

3 days ago

Apr 22, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans to play the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In a welcome change from the usual stroke play, the Zurich Classic is a team event. On Thursday and Saturday, the teams play best ball, and on Friday and Sunday the teams play alternate shot.

TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course features some short par 4s and plenty of water and bunkers, which makes for a lot of exciting risk/reward scenarios for competitors. Pete Dye designed the course in 2004 specifically for the Zurich Classic, although the event didn’t make its debut until 2007 because of Hurricane Katrina.

Coming off of the Masters and a signature event in consecutive weeks, the field this week is a step down, and understandably so. Many of the world’s top players will be using this time to rest after a busy stretch.

However, there are some interesting teams this season with some stars making surprise appearances in the team event. Some notable teams include Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala as well as a few Canadian teams, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners.

Past Winners at TPC Louisiana

2023: Riley/Hardy (-30)
2022: Cantlay/Schauffele (-29)
2021: Leishman/Smith (-20)
2019: Palmer/Rahm (-26)
2018: Horschel/Piercy (-22)
2017: Blixt/Smith (-27)

2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks

Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy +2500 (DraftKings)

Tom Hoge is coming off of a solid T18 finish at the RBC Heritage and finished T13 at last year’s Zurich Classic alongside Harris English.

This season, Hoge is having one of his best years on Tour in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach. In his last 24 rounds, the only player to top him on the category is Scottie Scheffler. Hoge has been solid on Pete Dye designs, ranking 28th in the field over his past 36 rounds.

McNealy is also having a solid season. He’s finished T6 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and T9 at the PLAYERS Championship. He recently started working with world renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, and its seemingly paid dividends in 2024.

Keith Mitchell/Joel Dahmen +4000 (DraftKings)

Keith Mitchell is having a fantastic season, finishing in the top-20 of five of his past seven starts on Tour. Most recently, Mitchell finished T14 at the Valero Texas Open and gained a whopping 6.0 strokes off the tee. He finished 6th at last year’s Zurich Classic.

Joel Dahmen is having a resurgent year and has been dialed in with his irons. He also has a T11 finish at the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass which is another Pete Dye track. With Mitchell’s length and Dahmen’s ability to put it close with his short irons, the Mitchell/Dahmen combination will be dangerous this week.

Taylor Moore/Matt NeSmith +6500 (DraftKings)

Taylor Moore has quickly developed into one of the more consistent players on Tour. He’s finished in the top-20 in three of his past four starts, including a very impressive showing at The Masters, finishing T20. He’s also finished T4 at this event in consecutive seasons alongside Matt NeSmith.

NeSmith isn’t having a great 2024, but has seemed to elevate his game in this format. He finished T26 at Pete Dye’s TPC Sawgrass, which gives the 30-year-old something to build off of. NeSmith is also a great putter on Bermudagrass, which could help elevate Moore’s ball striking prowess.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 LIV Adelaide betting preview: Cam Smith ready for big week down under

Published

3 days ago

Apr 22, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

After having four of the top twelve players on the leaderboard at The Masters, LIV Golf is set for their fifth event of the season: LIV Adelaide.

For both LIV fans and golf fans in Australia, LIV Adelaide is one of the most anticipated events of the year. With 35,000 people expected to attend each day of the tournament, the Grange Golf Club will be crawling with fans who are passionate about the sport of golf. The 12th hole, better known as “the watering hole”, is sure to have the rowdiest of the fans cheering after a long day of drinking some Leishman Lager.

The Grange Golf Club is a par-72 that measures 6,946 yards. The course features minimal resistance, as golfers went extremely low last season. In 2023, Talor Gooch shot consecutive rounds of 62 on Thursday and Friday, giving himself a gigantic cushion heading into championship Sunday. Things got tight for a while, but in the end, the Oklahoma State product was able to hold off The Crushers’ Anirban Lahiri for a three-shot victory.

The Four Aces won the team competition with the Range Goats finishing second.

*All Images Courtesy of LIV Golf*

Past Winners at LIV Adelaide

2023: Talor Gooch (-19)

Stat Leaders Through LIV Miami

Green in Regulation

Richard Bland
Jon Rahm
Paul Casey

Fairways Hit

Abraham Ancer
Graeme McDowell
Henrik Stenson

Driving Distance

Bryson DeChambeau
Joaquin Niemann
Dean Burmester

Putting

Cameron Smith
Louis Oosthuizen
Matt Jones

2024 LIV Adelaide Picks

Cameron Smith +1400 (DraftKings)

When I pulled up the odds for LIV Adelaide, I was more than a little surprised to see multiple golfers listed ahead of Cameron Smith on the betting board. A few starts ago, Cam finished runner-up at LIV Hong Kong, which is a golf course that absolutely suits his eye. Augusta National in another course that Smith could roll out of bed and finish in the top-ten at, and he did so two weeks ago at The Masters, finishing T6.

At Augusta, he gained strokes on the field on approach, off the tee (slightly), and of course, around the green and putting. Smith able to get in the mix at a major championship despite coming into the week feeling under the weather tells me that his game is once again rounding into form.

The Grange Golf Club is another course that undoubtedly suits the Australian. Smith is obviously incredibly comfortable playing in front of the Aussie faithful and has won three Australian PGA Championship’s. The course is very short and will allow Smith to play conservative off the tee, mitigating his most glaring weakness. With birdies available all over the golf course, there’s a chance the event turns into a putting contest, and there’s no one on the planet I’d rather have in one of those than Cam Smith.

Louis Oosthuizen +2200 (DraftKings)

Louis Oosthuizen has simply been one of the best players on LIV in the 2024 seas0n. The South African has finished in the top-10 on the LIV leaderboard in three of his five starts, with his best coming in Jeddah, where he finished T2. Perhaps more impressively, Oosthuizen finished T7 at LIV Miami, which took place at Doral’s “Blue Monster”, an absolutely massive golf course. Given that Louis is on the shorter side in terms of distance off the tee, his ability to play well in Miami shows how dialed he is with the irons this season.

In addition to the LIV finishes, Oosthuizen won back-to-back starts on the DP World Tour in December at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the Mauritus Open. He also finished runner-up at the end of February in the International Series Oman. The 41-year-old has been one of the most consistent performers of 2024, regardless of tour.

For the season, Louis ranks 4th on LIV in birdies made, T9 in fairways hit and first in putting. He ranks 32nd in driving distance, but that won’t be an issue at this short course. Last season, he finished T11 at the event, but was in decent position going into the final round but fell back after shooting 70 while the rest of the field went low. This season, Oosthuizen comes into the event in peak form, and the course should be a perfect fit for his smooth swing and hot putter this week.

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Opinion & Analysis

The Wedge Guy: What really makes a wedge work? Part 1

Published

1 week ago

Apr 18, 2024

Terry Koehler

Of all the clubs in our bags, wedges are almost always the simplest in construction and, therefore, the easiest to analyze what might make one work differently from another if you know what to look for.

Wedges are a lot less mysterious than drivers, of course, as the major brands are working with a lot of “pixie dust” inside these modern marvels. That’s carrying over more to irons now, with so many new models featuring internal multi-material technologies, and almost all of them having a “badge” or insert in the back to allow more complex graphics while hiding the actual distribution of mass.

But when it comes to wedges, most on the market today are still single pieces of molded steel, either cast or forged into that shape. So, if you look closely at where the mass is distributed, it’s pretty clear how that wedge is going to perform.

To start, because of their wider soles, the majority of the mass of almost any wedge is along the bottom third of the clubhead. So, the best wedge shots are always those hit between the 2nd and 5th grooves so that more mass is directly behind that impact. Elite tour professionals practice incessantly to learn to do that consistently, wearing out a spot about the size of a penny right there. If impact moves higher than that, the face is dramatically thinner, so smash factor is compromised significantly, which reduces the overall distance the ball will fly.

Every one of us, tour players included, knows that maddening shot that we feel a bit high on the face and it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s not your fault.

If your wedges show a wear pattern the size of a silver dollar, and centered above the 3rd or 4th groove, you are not getting anywhere near the same performance from shot to shot. Robot testing proves impact even two to three grooves higher in the face can cause distance loss of up to 35 to 55 feet with modern ‘tour design’ wedges.

In addition, as impact moves above the center of mass, the golf club principle of gear effect causes the ball to fly higher with less spin. Think of modern drivers for a minute. The “holy grail” of driving is high launch and low spin, and the driver engineers are pulling out all stops to get the mass as low in the clubhead as possible to optimize this combination.

Where is all the mass in your wedges? Low. So, disregarding the higher lofts, wedges “want” to launch the ball high with low spin – exactly the opposite of what good wedge play requires penetrating ball flight with high spin.

While almost all major brand wedges have begun putting a tiny bit more thickness in the top portion of the clubhead, conventional and modern ‘tour design’ wedges perform pretty much like they always have. Elite players learn to hit those crisp, spinny penetrating wedge shots by spending lots of practice time learning to consistently make contact low in the face.

So, what about grooves and face texture?

Grooves on any club can only do so much, and no one has any material advantage here. The USGA tightly defines what we manufacturers can do with grooves and face texture, and modern manufacturing techniques allow all of us to push those limits ever closer. And we all do. End of story.

Then there’s the topic of bounce and grinds, the most complex and confusing part of the wedge formula. Many top brands offer a complex array of sole configurations, all of them admittedly specialized to a particular kind of lie or turf conditions, and/or a particular divot pattern.

But if you don’t play the same turf all the time, and make the same size divot on every swing, how would you ever figure this out?

The only way is to take any wedge you are considering and play it a few rounds, hitting all the shots you face and observing the results. There’s simply no other way.

So, hopefully this will inspire a lively conversation in our comments section, and I’ll chime in to answer any questions you might have.

And next week, I’ll dive into the rest of the wedge formula. Yes, shafts, grips and specifications are essential, too.

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