Connect with us

19th Hole

Caddie’s bunker infraction proves ruinous at U.S. Amateur 

Published

on

At the U.S. Amateur at Bandon Dunes a rare and cruel ruling on the final hole on Thursday evening put paid to Segundo Oliva Pinto’s chances in his last 16 match against Tyler Strafaci.

All tied up heading down the par 5 last, Oliva Pinto found the greenside bunker with his second shot. While assessing where to land his third shot, Oliva Pinto’s caddie, who is a local caddie from the resort, touched the sand with his hand which was deemed to have been testing the conditions of the bunker.

The local looper denied to rules officials that he touched the sand, despite the evidence proving otherwise.

Rule 12.1/a states that: before making a stroke at a ball in a bunker, a player must not deliberately touch sand in the bunker with a hand, club, rake or other object to test the condition of the sand to learn information for the next stroke. 

Unfortunately for Oliva Pinto, caddies are included in that rule, and the error in judgment proved fatal with the hole concession resulting in the end of the match.

Following the incident, Oliva Pinto was philosophical, saying: “What happened, happened”.

Your Reaction?
  • 11
  • LEGIT5
  • WOW9
  • LOL2
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP1
  • OB1
  • SHANK22

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

19th Hole

Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game ‘on a much more global basis’

Published

on

While speaking with Bloomberg, golf legend Phil Mickelson acknowledged that he is inching close towards retirement.

“I’m 53 now,” Phil said, “and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end.”

Mickelson added that one of his focuses now is helping other young players.

“Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game has provided me. I’d like them to experience that as well.”

The six-time major champion credited LIV with reaching new markets in golf to help it grow.

“I think that’s exciting for everyone involved in the game because we are going to reach markets that we didn’t reach before. I think it’s going to inspire more golf courses, inspire more manufacturers selling clubs and equipment, but also inspiring young kids to try to play golf professionally. I just see that the game of golf is going to grow on a much more global basis because of the excitement and the presence that LIV Golf has.”

Mickelson is playing at this week’s LIV Singapore and shot a first round 72 (+1).

More from the 19th Hole

Your Reaction?
  • 4
  • LEGIT1
  • WOW1
  • LOL3
  • IDHT1
  • FLOP1
  • OB0
  • SHANK5

Continue Reading

19th Hole

Tiger explains why golf has ‘negative connotations’ for daughter Sam

Published

on

While Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, has certainly inherited his father’s love for golf, his daughter, Sam, has not.

On Wednesday, Tiger made an appearance on The Today Show with Carson Daly and explained his daughter’s relationship with golf.

“Golf has negative connotations for her. When she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, I had to leave, and I was gone for weeks. So, there were negative connotations to it.

“We developed our own relationship and our own rapport outside of golf. We do things that doesn’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, everything we do is golf related.”

The nine-minute interview touches on plenty of other subjects, such as Tiger’s relationship with his late father, Earl.

It’s arguably the most open we’ve seen the 15-time major champion in an interview and is most definitely worth watching.

More from the 19th Hole

Your Reaction?
  • 5
  • LEGIT4
  • WOW1
  • LOL2
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP1
  • OB1
  • SHANK3

Continue Reading

19th Hole

Gary Player claims this is what ‘completely ruined’ Tiger Woods’ career

Published

on

While speaking with KW Golf, golf legend Gary Player said that he believes swing coaches ruined the career of Tiger Woods.

“The US Open at Pebble Beach, he won by 15 shots. You know what that’s like? It’s like running the 100 meters in seven seconds. The next week, he’s having a lesson from a man who, I don’t think, if he played in the Masters, could break 80.”

“And then he goes to another guy who couldn’t probably break 85 in the Masters with the pressure, or the British Open or the PGA on the final day. And he’s having lessons from them.”

“Why did Tiger do that? He was so good, but I understand he wanted to get better,” Player went on. “If he had just gone along and never changed, he would have won at least 22.. He would’ve gone down as the greatest athlete the world has ever seen.”

In 2008, Woods had won 14 majors and was 33 years old. It would take him eleven years to win his 15th at the 2019 Masters.

In addition to the swing coach issue, there are many other issues throughout the career of Woods that golf fans will look back on and wonder “what if.”

More from the 19th Hole

Your Reaction?
  • 41
  • LEGIT9
  • WOW4
  • LOL6
  • IDHT2
  • FLOP1
  • OB2
  • SHANK32

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending