News

Webb Simpson the latest player to be hit with a penalty as he pleads for intent to be included in Rule 9.4b

Published

7 years ago

Mar 18, 2019

Webb Simpson is the latest PGA Tour player to be handed a penalty on Tour, with the 33-year-old receiving a one-stroke penalty on Sunday afternoon at the Players Championship, leading the former U.S. Open champion to declare that “we have to get intent into the rules.”

The incident occurred on the 14th green at TPC Sawgrass when Simpson was addressing a 47-foot birdie putt from the fringe. Simpson disclosed following his round how his putter accidentally became tangled in his shirt, moving his golf ball “a quarter of an inch.” The 33-year-old was assessed a one-stroke penalty from a rules official having been deemed in violation of Rule 9.4b (Ball Lifted or Moved by Player).

Had Simpson had accidentally moved his ball on the putting surface, the American would not have been handed a penalty, but since the incident occurred off the green, it violated the rules. Something which Simpson, while speaking after the round, was frustrated with (per Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard)

“I’m going to be loud and clear, we have to get intent into the rules. We have to. Because it’s killing our game when it comes to these kind of things. What they try to say is either it’s hard to write the rule with intent or you open it up for gray area.

I think it’s actually the opposite. There’s no advantage. My putter hit my clothes, it moved it a quarter inch, I’m going to move it back. So I’m just I’m hoping that somehow or another intent can get broadened.”

Simpson finished the event T16 after birdieing two of his final three holes on Sunday.

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Gianni Magliocco

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected]

11 Comments

knackers

Mar 20, 2019 at 7:47 am

What a sponge. Seems like sportsmanship has gone too the wayside and i wonder how many of these pros would self-impose a penalty if not seen by others/camera. Bobby Jones self-imposed a penalty that cost him the US Open. “You might as well praise me for not robbing banks.”. How about be play with the old rules that your aren’t allowed to pick the ball up and whilst we are at it ban alignment markings on balls.

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cody reeder

Mar 19, 2019 at 9:16 am

it is difficult to prove or disprove intent. that is why intent should never be part of any rule for sports. Can you imagine, “I didnt mean to grab your facemask and almost rip your head off” Oh, ok as long as you didn’t intend to, then no foul”.

Or I didnt mean to hit him with the pitch, so he should be able to take his base. Get out of her, spend a few min on your private jet as you fly to your next event a read the rule book a bit.

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youraway

Mar 19, 2019 at 8:01 am

With lack of integrity on the Tour, it would be prevalent for accidental movement of the ball to improve ones lie. Don’t believe me, I remember Phil’s comment well when he said he wanted to violate a rule to his benefit, US Open. PLAY THE BALL AS IT LIES AND LEARN THE RULES

Reply Report comment
Jim

Mar 19, 2019 at 6:49 am

It’s amazing how these pro’s don’t know the rules of the game they play and make a living from, and when they break a rule they don’t think it should apply to them or of late these rules are stupid and hurting the game! Come guys step up and play the game and know the rules!!

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Swirley

Mar 18, 2019 at 5:51 pm

Not sure why, but Webb’s face bothers me more than his name does.

Reply Report comment
Chuck

Mar 18, 2019 at 4:47 pm

More almost-unbelievable stupidity from yet another famous Tour player, who reveals how little he knows about the Rules of Golf even as he claims he knows what to do about them.

In the Golf.com story about this new Simpson complaint, Simpson just embarrassed himself…

“But in making his next point, Simpson badly misstated another of the rules changes.

“’Now you can be looking for a ball in the rough this high at a U.S. Open; if you step on it, it’s a penalty,’ Simpson said, ‘It used not to be a penalty. So they have reversed that rule that saved the player from a mistake that anybody can make, and so why would they change that rule I’m not so sure about.’

“The opposite is actually true.

“Under the old rules, players were penalized for accidentally moving their ball while searching for it. The governing bodies deemed that unfair, as Simpson clearly does, so they changed the rule. Now, players who accidentally move their ball while searching for it do not receive a penalty.”

I say now, again, as I have before. I want these young tour pros to argue all of their Rules complaints with real Rules experts from the USGA, and I want it to happen on live tv, so that I can watch. The USGA is taking so much heat right now from these Tour players, who are actually so very ignorant themselves of the Rules in the game they play for a living.

Reply Report comment
- Geoffrey Holland
  
  Mar 19, 2019 at 12:54 am
  
  Webb Simpson is a holier-than-thou phony christian moron.
  
  Reply Report comment
Dizzle Trizzle

Mar 18, 2019 at 4:14 pm

I think he had trouble seeing the ball through that chin rug.

Reply Report comment
William

Mar 18, 2019 at 4:14 pm

Don’t use a putter that comes to your neck and dont ANCHOR it to your forearm. Use the putter like every other club and only let it touch your hands. Why don’t you anchor your driver to your forearm?

Reply Report comment
CURT

Mar 18, 2019 at 3:50 pm

Best way to fix that is banning long putters.

Reply Report comment
larrybud

Mar 18, 2019 at 3:43 pm

Don’t move your ball Webb.. pretty simple. Been like that forever, it’s not that hard.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

7 hours ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ben A

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

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Published

18 hours ago

Jun 1, 2026

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Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.

Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.

Henley’s Suitcase

Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype

LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!

Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.

Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.

Celine’s Suitcase

Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS

DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!

Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.

Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.

Kaneko’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping Max G440
Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7

Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro

Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.

The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.

Alvaro’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
Wedges
Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C

A party on the green!

Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026

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Niemann’s Suitcase