19th Hole

Collin Morikawa hits out at referee over penalty after playing partner reported incident to rules official

Published

8 months ago

Dec 4, 2023

On Saturday’s third round of the Hero World Challenge, Collin Morikawa was hit with a two-stroke penalty for violating Model Local Rule G-11.

During the round, Morikawa’s caddie, Jonathan Jakovac, used a device on the practice green to calculate slope, which is permitted. However, the information was then added to his handwritten notes in the yardage book, which is illegal.

While speaking with Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, Morikawa revealed that it was his playing partner and European Ryder Cup star Matt Fitzpatrick who reported Morikawa for the rule violation.

Morikawa said that he didn’t blame Fitzpatrick, but he was upset at how Chief Referee Stephen Cox handled the situation.

“To be honest, I was a little mad at Stephen,” said Morikawa. “He told us to meet him in the locker room. I was waiting in there for about five minutes, and he didn’t show up. This was midway through my warm-up. “If you’re going to tell me some news, I think you should show up on time and give it to me.”

While speaking with PGATour.com, Cox explained the decision.

“This is a very complicated issue. We respect the traditional methods of people wanting to have notes in their yardage book. That is something that’s been going on for many years. And obviously, when we drafted this Model Local Rule we wanted to protect that. Some players and caddie take more notes than others.”

“We were very specific in that these handwritten notes needed to be obtained through traditional methods to protect the fundamental skill of reading greens within our sport.

“If he had gone there using traditional methods and estimated with his feet or other means the percentages of slope on that practice putting green, 1%, 1.5% or 2% to gauge the amount of break on a particular length of putt, that chart or formula that the caddie has devised would be fine.”

“It comes down to use of this handwritten note. Because he used it for assessing the putt during his third round then he was assessed a two-stroke penalty.

“Fortunately, that is the only time the player or caddie has accessed that information, and, on that basis, the breach remained at two strokes.”

Speaking to reporters following the round, Fitzpatrick stated:

“Yeah. Listen, I was on the green, I heard Collin ask the question. J.J. gave him an answer from his yardage book. I just — you know, I have wanted to use AimPoint earlier this year. I spoke to my putting coach, Phil Kenyon, about it.

“He told me that he was pretty certain I can’t write the numbers down or use the AimPoint numbers. So, you know, I didn’t do it. And then obviously yesterday it happened and I asked Coxy [the rules official] just to clarify what the situation was.

“I asked the question and he was like, well, now you’ve asked the question, I need you to tell me what’s going on. That was it. Listen, it’s nothing personal. Whether it was Tiger or whoever, it’s just I wanted to know because I would have used it earlier this year.”

Morikawa finished seventh (-12) for the event.

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19th Hole

‘Just get back there. F**k sake!’ – Shane Lowry loses cool with cameraman at Open Championship

Published

5 hours ago

Jul 19, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Shane Lowry raced out to a hot start on Thursday’s opening round of the Open Championship. On Friday, the Irishman was in cruise control and earned himself a two-stroke lead through ten holes when disaster struck.

The former Open winner hit his tee shot in some high grass, and made an error on his second shot, with the ball shooting left into a gorse bush.

Shane Lowry HOT Mic ?? ?

? “As I was over the ball I could just see you putting your f—kin’ camera up. Just get outta the way. Just get back there. F—k sake!” @LowryTracker

pic.twitter.com/1tBmDF8vTh

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 19, 2024

After he hit the shot, Lowry blamed a cameraman for the miscue.

“As I was over the ball I could just see you putting your f—kin’ camera up. Just get outta the way. Just get back there. F—k sake!”

He’d gone on to make double bogey on the hole and is still tied for the lead as things stand.

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19th Hole

Tyrrell Hatton hits out at course setup after opening round at Open Championship

Published

5 hours ago

Jul 19, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

LIV golfer Tyrrell Hatton has never been shy about voicing his opinion on golf course setups. Back in 2022, the Englishman voiced his displeasure with the hallowed grounds of Augusta National.

“You can hit good shots here and not get any reward for it. It’s unfair at times,” Hatton said. “I don’t agree with that. If you hit a good shot, you should end up near the hole — not short-sided into a bunker because of the slopes that they’ve created and stuff. Yeah, I don’t think it’s a fair test at times, and when you hit good shots and you’re not rewarded for it, it shows.”

This week, Royal Troon is under fire from Hatton.

After his opening round of 73 (+2), he sounded off on the course.

“They didn’t put any tees forward. You can’t reach any of the par-5s on the front nine. Was it 15 or 16, the par-5, you’re hitting a 4-iron off it. Tell me a good par-5 where you’re hitting 4-iron off the tee. There isn’t one.

“Even though they’ve moved the tee back on 17, which I think is a shame, it’s still with the wind today, you’re hitting 5-iron and hoping it can stay on the green. Rory obviously hits it a lot higher and further, and he was hitting 7-iron there. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s a tough hole, and it’s still hard to hit that green. I think it’s a good thing that the wind was playing down because they probably would have left the tee at the back if it was into off the left. Then do you want to watch guys hit 3-wood into a green that’s hard enough to hit with 7-iron?”

Hatton is still firmly in the mix prior to his second-round tee time and will look to make a move to get into position for the weekend.

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19th Hole

Bryson DeChambeau points to equipment issues after disappointing Open Championship start

Published

5 hours ago

Jul 19, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Since his incredible victory at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No.2, Bryson DeChambeau certainly has a case to be considered one of the biggest stars in golf. The 30-year-old has grown in popularity due to his success on social media and his popular YouTube channel that appeals to the everyday golfer.

Despite the success and current form on the golf course, DeChambeau got off to a tough start at this week’s Open Championship. The LIV golfer opened with a +5 first round at Royal Troon and struggled to get the wind right all day.

After the round, Bryson spoke to the media about his struggles, initially blaming his equipment.

“I’m not at 190 ball speed, so particularly when I’m hitting driver or 3-wood, those clubs are built for around that speed, that 190 ball speed, and my 3-wood around 180, so colder, firmer conditions the golf ball is not compressing as much.

“I’ve got a chance tomorrow. I’m excited for the challenge. If I have some putts go in and hit some shots the way I know how to and figure out this equipment stuff, I’ll be good.”

DeChambeau added that in addition to his equipment, he’s also not used to playing on wet and windy links courses.

“Yeah, it’s a difficult test out here. Something I’m not familiar with. I never grew up playing it, and not to say that that’s the reason; I finished eighth at St Andrews. I can do it when it’s warm and not windy.”

Friday’s second round will tell if he’s made the necessary adjustments to adapt to the Open Championship conditions.