Tour News
USGA adds local rule, scraps penalty for accidental ball movement
Call it the “Dustin Johnson Rule.” The USGA has added a local rule aimed at dealing with players accidentally moving their own balls on the green.
As we all remember, Johnson (nine holes after the offense) was found to have caused his golf ball to move after grounding his club during a practice stroke on one of Oakmont’s undulating skating rink greens at the U.S. Open. The infraction cost the eventual tournament winner a stroke.
The new rule will go into effect January 1 and will (happily) be adopted by all major tours and championships. It modifies rules 18-2, 18-3, and 20-1, which deal collectively with a ball at rest.
The USGA’s new directive reads in part:
“When a player’s ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent, or any of their caddies or equipment. … If it is determined that a player’s ball on the putting green was moved as a result of wind, water or some other natural cause such as the effects of gravity, the ball must be played as it lies from its new location.”
“There was simply too many times on the putting green where we were seeing players penalized, balls moving. We weren’t sure the cause,” said USGA CEO and Executive Director Mike Davis in a press release. “What’s been happening is that you’re seeing penalties assessed that the rules never really contemplated.”
Thomas Pagel, the USGA’s senior director of rules and amateur status, said: “Eliminating the penalty responds to the concerns we have heard from both golfers and committees about the difficulties in applying the current rules when a player accidentally causes a ball to move on the putting green.”
Geoff Shackelford offered his usual spot-on take, reading between the lines of the determination.
“The governing bodies have long resisted introducing the question of intent to the Rules of Golf. They’ve also been loathe to introduce Local Rules…But with one smart gesture preventing the game from three more years of silliness (until the next Rules of Golf update), they’ve introduced a local rule that eliminates a penalty for accidental ball movements. While it’ll inevitably be dubbed the Dustin Johnson rule, there were many victims along the way.”
And in an additional effort to keep up with the times, the folks in Far Hills released this handy infographic.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Players Championship
On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.
We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.
Check out our photos below!
Pullout Albums
- New Titleist 2 wood – 2024 The Players Championship
- Cam Young testing Titleist’s new 2-wood – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Hole Nos. 17 and 18 – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Toulon Small Batch Texas putter – 2024 The Players Championship
- Swag Golf custom headcovers – 2024 The Players Championship
- New Ping PLD staff bags – 2024 The Players Championship
- SuperStroke St. Patrick’s Day putter grip – 2024 The Players Championship
- Taylor Montgomery using PuttView X training goggles – 2024 The Players Championship
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.
We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.
General Albums
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #3
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1 (thanks, bvmagic!)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #3 (bvmagic)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2 (bvmagic)
WITB Albums
- Matt (LFG) Every – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sahith Theegala – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Luke List – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Taylor Moore – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- David Ford – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Pullout Albums
- New Cameron putters (and new “LD” grip) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Bettinardi MB & CB irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Bettinardi API putter cover – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Swag API covers – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New PXG putters – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler putter change – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sepp Straka – shaft change to new Ventus blue – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Rickie Fowler’s new Cobra Darkspeed X driver and Denali shaft (and Radspeed 3-wood) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Justin Rose testing Srixon Z Forged II irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Cognizant Classic —FKA the Honda Classic.
The first leg of the PGA Tour’s traditional “Florida swing,” the Cognizant Classic continues to be contested at PGA National’s Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, host course of the 1983 Ryder Cup and 1987 PGA Championship. The course is known for its famed “Bear Trap,” a three-hole stretch of holes that take their name from Jack “The Golden Bear” Nicklaus, who redesigned the course in 2002.
The Bear Trap includes No. 15 (a par 3), No. 16 (a par 4), and No. 17 (a par 4). All three holes involve water and have led to several big numbers from Tour players over the years.
Check out an assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums below.
We’ll continue to update the galleries as more photos flow in from Florida!
General Albums
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #3
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #4
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Tuesday #1
WITB Albums
- Brandt Snedeker – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Max Greyserman – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Eric Cole – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Carl Yuan – WITb – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Russell Henley – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Justin Suh – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Alex Noren – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Shane Lowry – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Taylor Montgomery – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Jake Knapp (KnappTime_ltd) – WITB – – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Sam Ryder – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Maverick McNealy – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Tua Tagovailoa mini WITB (NFL QB, Miami Dolphins) – 2024 Cognizant Classic
Pullout Albums
- New Super Stoke Pistol Lock 1.0 & 2.0 grips – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- LA Golf new insert putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- New Garsen Quad Tour 15 grip – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- New Swag covers – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Jacob Bridgeman’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Bud Cauley’s custom Cameron putters – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Ryo Hisatsune’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Chris Kirk – new black Callaway Apex CB irons and a few Odyssey putters
- Alejandro Tosti’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Joohyung Tom Kim’s “new” center-shafted Scotty Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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biglou11
Dec 11, 2016 at 10:55 pm
The one rule they should implement is to allow for a free drop or placement if your ball is on a divot. Why should someone before you get a perfect lie, but then you have to hit out of an imperfect lie from the same location.
mikee
Dec 11, 2016 at 6:02 am
hopefully……more rule “adjustments” on the way…..like adjusting the multi color and multi meaning golf stakes to “every stake is a red stake”.
Dill Pickleson
Dec 12, 2016 at 3:27 am
agreed. stroke and distance is ridiculous
Safe spaces w Barack
Dec 9, 2016 at 12:38 pm
I say make keeping score illegal, it’s not fair to all and a form of ableism.
Double Mocha Man
Dec 8, 2016 at 8:49 pm
28 likes and nary a shank. I think that’s a new GolfWRX record!
Matto
Dec 8, 2016 at 4:37 pm
They need to change the bunker rule. If my ball finds the bunker, it should be a free drop….in the middle of the fairway.
Mort
Dec 8, 2016 at 10:45 pm
You know that’s not even funny, and nobody wants to play with you ever again, right, because you don’t like golf
Matto
Dec 8, 2016 at 11:13 pm
Dear Mort,
Appreciate the response. You might be right. So would you play with me? If I organised it?
Kind regards.
Kelly
Dec 8, 2016 at 4:20 pm
I think this is a really positive move. However, I’m not sure why they have removed the penalty for actually kicking a ball. Kicking a ball marker, maybe, but actually kicking a ball is such a gross act of negligence that you should get penalized just for being that stupid.
Mitch Young
Dec 8, 2016 at 6:44 pm
there are many occasions when this can happen, ever play on shared greens or the older private courses that have greens, holes and practice ares that are close to the putting surface.
Double Mocha Man
Dec 8, 2016 at 8:52 pm
It’s not like they’re kicking a field goal in the NFL. It’s for the clumsy golfer who is not paying attention when he approaches his ball and accidentally kicks it. Now, the “foot wedge” is a totally different issue.
Mort
Dec 8, 2016 at 10:47 pm
Kelly, what they should introduce is a rule, where if you cannot bend over to replace ballmark or pick up the ball, or pull the ball out of the cup, you are penalized on 2 strokes on every hole you use a device attachments to do those things.
Dill Pickleson
Dec 12, 2016 at 3:29 am
i just did this the other day. went to mark my ball and someone started yelling fore but i wheeled to protect myself and kicked my ball.
Golfrnut
Dec 8, 2016 at 2:48 pm
Why make it a local rule? Just overwrite what’s already in the rule book and be done with it IMO.
the bishop
Dec 8, 2016 at 2:58 pm
http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1416850-local-rule-accidentally-moved-ball-on-the-green/#entry14623106
Golfrnut
Dec 8, 2016 at 3:20 pm
Ah…awesome. Thanks for that!
JP
Dec 8, 2016 at 1:36 pm
FINNNALLLLLYYY!!!!
the bishop
Dec 8, 2016 at 1:30 pm
They still need to scrap Mike Davis if they ever expect to see any of my money again.
Mort
Dec 8, 2016 at 10:48 pm
Good. Good bye! We won’t miss you or your silly dolla
the bishop
Dec 9, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Don’t stop now Mort since you brought your A game.
CT
Dec 9, 2016 at 10:42 am
The USGA is unbelievably terrible, and the embodiment of the worst aspects of elitism in golf.
Drv4shwputt4dough
Dec 9, 2016 at 11:34 am
Yes sir!!!