17 replies to this topic

[aclemfan48]

Link to the story... http://www.pgatour.c...lumn/index.html

For those who haven't read, Barber disqualified himself 6 days after finishing in 4th place in the first stage of Q-School due to a small rules infraction of rule 13-4c.

I wanted to know what everyone on here thought of this, as it bears a striking resemblance to the Brian Davis penalty at harbor town a few years back.  I understand the rule, and I have a lot of respect for Blayne for being honest and doing the right thing (I hope most on here would too), but I find the rule in and of itself ridiculous.  Your club brushing a lose impediment like a leaf or blade of grass is not giving you an advantage over anyone, and really cost this young player, this should be looked at in more detail than the long putter ruling IMO.

I understand if he walked in and moved all the leaves around his ball to get a better lie, but this is clearly not what happened, what does everyone think?

[BallPincher]

IMO this rule and lots of others are BS. With that said, he broke the rules, did what he thought was correct at the time. Found out later he had acted incorrectly, and took care of that.

Sucks, but there will always be opportunities for honest, good people. I'll throw him an exemption for my tournament, the BallPincher Invitational (still trying to get OWGR points this year).

Edited by BallPincher, 15 November 2012 - 11:54 AM.

[tembolo1284]

Poor dude...but he did the right thing.

[kevcarter]

The rule didn't get him DQ'd, a mis-application of the proper penalty, and ultimately signing an incorrect scorecard got him DQ'd. He did the right thing and made the only call that would allow him to sleep at night.

[ej002]

Man, what a difficult thing to do.  Hopefully the golf gods will shed some good will in his direction.

[bscinstnct]

Is it considered poor form to review your card with the officials before you sign?

I don't know how it works but it seems like every player should have some sort of back-stop/audit/"spell check" type procedure before they sign.

Didn't a guy lose the Masters for signing the wrong score?!

But, he is a good man and he can look himself in the mirror.

[kevcarter]

bscinstnct, on 15 November 2012 - 06:59 PM, said:

Is it considered poor form to review your card with the officials before you sign?

I don't know how it works but it seems like every player should have some sort of back-stop/audit/"spell check" type procedure before they sign.

Didn't a guy lose the Masters for signing the wrong score?!

But, he is a good man and he can look himself in the mirror.

Exactly Sir. That was the point I was trying to make. He knew the rule, but applied the wrong penalty. A question in the scorers tent would have kept him on track. Simply a little careless.

He did the right thing, making a VERY difficult telephone call. I hope he received great Karma in return

[PZero]

So many stupid and petty rules that really need to be changed and soon. They have no business being a penalty.

[Sean2]

I find some of the rules of golf...baffling.

[teeman2116]

There is another thread about this http://www.golfwrx.c...11#entry5930611

[zargaro]

He’s very commendable for coming forward and DQ himself, after the fact.

Golf is full of rules, and some can be very vague on how they are to be applied.
Hence the reason, even the PGA players are quick to request an official when in doubt.

[502 to Right]

. . .

Edited by 502 to Right, 15 November 2012 - 10:24 PM.

[Truman]

It looked bad that he took 6 days to come forward, when he was told that night that he had made a mistake.  Everyone who plays should try and understand the rules and decisions of golf.  When you are uncertain ask.  When you make a mistake correct it as soon as you are aware.

[GAL007]

I imagine Chesson Hadley is pretty excited that Barber came to the decision he did. Hadley finished 1 shot off the number to advance at first stage but moved inside the cut line when Barber disqualified himself. Hadley then proceeded to advance through second stage and will be competing at final stage. Talk about taking advantage of an opportunity

[OptionlessM]

Blayne is a very good guy, we speak regularly.  He will be on television in the future, no doubt.

[Thrillhouse]

The rules are the rules and competition can't work properly unless everybody plays by the same ones.

Good for him for doing the right thing, hopefully he moves past this and winds up on tour sooner rather than later.

[Jim Clark]

I think that rule has to do with moving a loose impediment in a hazard during the backswing which gives the player a clear shot at the ball which he might not have had. For example: there's a fairly large stick behind the ball, not touching it but definitely in the way on the downswing. The player moves the stick out of the way with the backswing giving them a clear path to the ball on the downswing. I agree that touching and/or moving a blade of grass on the backswing does not give the player an advantage. But a loose impediment is a loose impediment, it doesn't matter how big it is. When in doubt, don't touch anything with the backswing in a hazard.

[smuhunter]

He knew mistake after the second round when someone mentioned it was a 2 stroke penalty and still played two more rounds!  Then he came forward 6 days later when guilt probably got the best of him...