Another PGA tour tournament with some very interesting rulings.
Simpson’s ball was on the fringe of a green. He did something with his club and by accident he moved his ball at rest. The referee gave him a one stroke penalty. Simpson argued that it was not intentional. The referee told him the intention is not an issue when we accidently move our ball at rest.
When a ball lies on the green, there is not penalty if we move accidently the ball at rest.
TIGER WOODS
Tiger made a 7 on the infamous hole # 17. A better knowledge of the rules would have probably avoided that high score. Instead of playing from the Drop Zone, he could have used the back on the line relief near the green. The ball had touched the green and fell in the water at the back of the green. The point of entry was on the path used to go on the island green.
The back on the line PLUS the club length on the side would have given him a much easier shot to the pin.
IAN POULTER
On hole #4, Poulter sent his ball in the penalty area in front of the green. The ball first touched the ground before entering in the penalty area. The line was yellow. He asked the referee to drop a ball on the green side. The referee refused because the ball never touched the general area outside the penalty zone.
I received many messages from viewers because the television commentators did not explain it correctly.
Even if the ball had touched the ground in the general area before entering the penalty area, no room was available back on the line.
THE YELLOW LINE RULE
Step 1: Determine the point of entry and put a tee on the ground
Step 2 : Imagine a line starting from the pin, passing by the point of entry and going backwards
Step 3 : If you find ground on back on the line that is not in the penalty area you may drop a ball within one club length from the imaginary line.
Most of the time, with a yellow line, you will have to go back and still have the penalty area in front of you.
COMMENTS
When you make a living out of a sport, as a player or a commentator, you should take time to know correctly all the rules.