[Bruce Katona]

The season is beginning with a bang for Rules junkies.  Tiger Woods misses the cut in the European Event held in the UAE after taking an embedded ball drop ruled illegal by the Officilal in charge, several holes later.

Woods playing partner was asked by Woods about the embedded ball and he concurred the ball was embedded, thus the drop.  Spectators alerted the rules officials sveral holes later that an illegal drop may have occurred.

Doew each tour now assign a rules person to each group so these rules gaffe's don't continue?  Play is slow enough as it is.
Or do we allow playing competitors the ability to deal with these issues as the Rules of Golf permit?

It certainly was not as if Woods took a drop without his playing partners knowledge.

 http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/tiger-woods-rory-mcIlroy-out-miss-cut-abu-dhabi-championship-011813

[Howard Riefs]

Video of the incident:

http://www.golfchannel.com/media/european-tour-011813-abu-dhabi-round2-tiger-penalty-hole-5/

Spectators alerted the rules officials sveral holes later that an illegal drop may have occurred.

Actually, it was a Golfweek reporter:

McFee said it was spectators who brought the possible violation to light, but it was first mentioned to another rules official by Alistair Tait, a writer for Golfweek magazine who happened to be following the group. "I just asked the question,'' Tait said.

http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/8856358/tiger-woods-rory-mcilroy-miss-cut-abu-dhabi

Deja vu of when Sports Illustrated reporter Michael Bamberger told a rules official about Michelle Wie's rules infraction.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/golf/lpga/2005-10-17-wie-si_x.htm

[Bruce Katona]

Howard: The article I read on yahoo said spectator.

Spot on - "Deja Vu all over again", as the Great Yogi likes to say

[Carl Nichols]

Video of the incident:

http://www.golfchannel.com/media/european-tour-011813-abu-dhabi-round2-tiger-penalty-hole-5/

Spectators alerted the rules officials sveral holes later that an illegal drop may have occurred.

Actually, it was a Golfweek reporter:

McFee said it was spectators who brought the possible violation to light, but it was first mentioned to another rules official by Alistair Tait, a writer for Golfweek magazine who happened to be following the group. "I just asked the question,'' Tait said.

http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/8856358/tiger-woods-rory-mcilroy-miss-cut-abu-dhabi

Deja vu of when Sports Illustrated reporter Michael Bamberger told a rules official about Michelle Wie's rules infraction.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/golf/lpga/2005-10-17-wie-si_x.htm

And in his Golfweek article about the incident, Tait did not mention either that it was brought to the officials' attention by someone following that group or that that person was actually Tait.   

http://golfweek.com/news/2013/jan/18/woods-misses-first-euro-tour-cut-after-two-stroke-/

[jeffwarne]

or they could just learn the rules.
embedded lie rule very specific about
2 things
1.closely mown area (however more than likely the Tour uses a local rule to extendthat to through the green for its events)
2. not in  sandy area.
The only possibility would be if someone wanted to argue it wasn't sandy-i.e. when does sand, mixed with topsoil, become dirt
Doesn't sound like that was the issue though

[Ed Brzezowski]

Learn the rules for a game at which you earn a living??  Novel idea.

I always wonder why you never see a tour player at a USGA rules school. I have to do 24 hours of continuing ed every two years to hold a license. These guys have no clue and don't really seem concerned. 

[Jason Connor]

Tiger should know better.  He was in a jungle.  

Where is relief without penalty available for a ball that is embedded?
When the ball is embedded in any closely mown area through the green.
What is a closely mown area?
Any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

These guys think they get relief from everywhere.

Clearly Tiger understood "closely mown area" as well as he understands marriage vows.

[Howard Riefs]

And in his Golfweek article about the incident, Tait did not mention either that it was brought to the officials' attention by someone following that group or that that person was actually Tait.   

http://golfweek.com/news/2013/jan/18/woods-misses-first-euro-tour-cut-after-two-stroke-/

Interesting. No matter who told the officials, Tiger is spending the weekend elsewhere but will still have his $3 million appearance fee to keep him company.

[Pete_Pittock]

Tiger should know better.  He was in a jungle.  

Where is relief without penalty available for a ball that is embedded?
When the ball is embedded in any closely mown area through the green.
What is a closely mown area?
Any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

These guys think they get relief from everywhere.

Clearly Tiger understood "closely mown area" as well as he understands marriage vows.

Jason,
Through local rule, relief for an embedded golf ball can be extended to "through the green".  I assume this was in effect for the tournament.

[astavrides]

.

[jeffwarne]

Jason,
Through local rule, relief for an embedded golf ball can be extended to "through the green".  I assume this was in effect for the tournament.

Apparently Tiger and Martin assumed that too.

It was in effect. The problem was,there is NO relief for a ball embedded in sand.(through the green or otherwise)
Which does get a bit tricky when covered in vegetation, although not so trickly that a sports writer and an official couldn't quickly figure it out.

[Walter Bart]

Local rules were in effect so that the drop ruling extended beyond closely mown areas.  I saw the situation and drop on video.  With so much vegetation there, it would be quite hard to construe it as a sandy area. Tiger was screwed IMHO. 

[Bryan Lewis]

Doew each tour now assign a rules person to each group so these rules gaffe's don't continue?  Play is slow enough as it is.
Or do we allow playing competitors the ability to deal with these issues as the Rules of Golf permit?

One unique aspect of the Rules of Golf is the player is responsible for knowing the Rules.  You won't find that in other sports.  In stroke play this is so important because every other player in the field has an interest in the outcome of your play.  Allowing fellow competitors to make a final say in Rules situations would not be in keeping with this principle.  Why should a player who knows the Rules be at a disadvantage over a player who is ignorant, if ignorance were a get out of jail free card?  Tiger was responsible for knowing the Rules.

It IS interesting the players never go to Rules workshops.  Even if they think that is beneath them, they could at least require their caddies to go on an annual basis.  Saving one stroke a year would more than pay for it.

Bryan

[Pete_Pittock]

I was at a rules school where a fellow student was a caddy for a hall-of-famer. He didn't stay for the final test, but was at all the classroom sessions. It still didn't keep the plahyer from a DQ later on. Think I'm on good footing in saying the players don't go because it would interferere with their concentration.

[jeffwarne]

Local rules were in effect so that the drop ruling extended beyond closely mown areas.  I saw the situation and drop on video.  With so much vegetation there, it would be quite hard to construe it as a sandy area. Tiger was screwed IMHO. 

It does beg the question.
Why do the tours and USGA routinely play the local rule "through the green", when it's not called for by soft conditions?
They're playing in a freaking desert.

Why make the everyday player play embedded balls, but not the elite.
the USGA makes the rules, and if they think they should include "through the green" in their championships, why not just change the rule for everyone?

Or don't play the local rule.Then it's pretty simple-closely mowed, drop. otherwise, no. Sandy area, no-why? it's not closely mown.
and use the local rule when it's actually needed.

In Tiger's defense, is it a sandy area if it's sand covered with rough? How thin does the rough need to be to be "sandy".

[Patrick_Mucci]

Jeff,

If there's one lesson that's been learned over decades, and it's a basic lesson, a simple lesson

CALL THE OFFICIAL OVER TO GIVE AN OFFICIAL RULING.

NO OFFICIAL AVAILABLE, PUT A PROVISIONAL BALL INTO PLAY.

IT DOESN'T GET EASIER THAN THAT

NO NEED TO CHANGE THE RULES, JUST USE COMMON SENSE JUDGEMENT

[Andrew Brown]

Jeff,

It is my understanding that relief for an embedded ball is a small point of disagreement between the two ruling bodies. The USGA would like it to be "through the green" whilst the R&A wants it restricted to closely mown areas. Thus it is a local rule that can be adopted. It is on all hard cards for professional tours and USGA events. However for tournaments under the auspices of the R&A (The Open Championship) relief is on on closely mown surfaces.

At a club level, the club can adopt the local Rule to extend it to through the green. It is recommended by the USGA (again, my understanding) that clubs in the United States adopt the local Rule.

As to it's fairness and effectiveness, sometimes a player gets a "great" break with an embedded ball in crappy areas off the fairway. As it is part of the Rules, that's how breaks go sometimes....

Patrick,

A player who doesn't call over a ref and is in doubt would not be playing a Provisional Ball. He would play a second ball under Rule 3-3. It is a complex procedure to follow (you have to nominate in advance which ball you wish to count - i.e you can't choose later). Because of this it can have pitfalls for those who utilize it.....

Regards
Andrew

[jeffwarne]

Jeff,

If there's one lesson that's been learned over decades, and it's a basic lesson, a simple lesson

CALL THE OFFICIAL OVER TO GIVE AN OFFICIAL RULING.

NO OFFICIAL AVAILABLE, PUT A PROVISIONAL BALL INTO PLAY.

IT DOESN'T GET EASIER THAN THAT

NO NEED TO CHANGE THE RULES, JUST USE COMMON SENSE JUDGEMENT

Pat I know the rules, and the wording.
Sure, slow down the game some more.

[Mike Benham]

There is no incentive for the players to know ALL the rules as there are rules officials available at every tournament they play.

In this case, the players THOUGHT they knew the rule but were wrong.

Pat is correct, when in doubt play two balls.


Tiger's comment at the scorer's table when ask if he wanted to go back at to the spot of the incident was a "No" ... I don't think he is too disappointed to miss the cut, get back to the States versus going first off with a marker on Saturday morning ...

[John Kavanaugh]

The rules of golf are far too complicated and will remain that way because it gives the nerds power over the jocks. The players need the officials. It's all payback from middle school. You can take a mans money but he would rather die, in this instance kill the game, than give up his power.

Find the ball and hit it.  If you can't take a double. It is that simple.

[Ed Brzezowski]

John.   Wow  good rant. Goes back to high school,interesting theory.

Hope no one shoves me into a locker during the next event I do rules for in Philly. Might not fit anymore.

[Chris Cupit]

The Rules are complicated but c'mon, it's only "dumb" jocks (or dumb/ignorant anyones) who give anyone else any authority!  I was a "jock" and have played lots of tournament golf but I took the time to learn the Rules of the game I have spent a lifetime playing.  I knew them very well even as a junior and much better now.

I can't imagine trying to play any game (Monopoly, Chess, Golf, Football) without an excellent understanding of the Rules.

For 99% of golfers and even the 1% of elite competition players if you took the time to learn 6 Rules it would cover you in 95% of all situations that arise on the course.  For that rare situation if I am playing for a living, how hard is it to ask for an official or play a second ball?  

The requirement for the player when using 3-3 is that when a player isn't sure what he can do, before proceeding he can tell his marker or fellow competitor that he wants to play two balls and which ball he wants to count.  He last requirement is to tell the Committee what happened before signing his card.  That's it.  The Committee will decide which balls counts, why and what the score is.

My six suggestions re: Rules to know (assuming you care enough to want to play by the Rules--and if you don't, that's cool--it can be fun playing "golf" with a casual version of some rules too):

1.  Rule 3-3 Doubt as to Procedure (Stroke Play)  
2. Rule 24  Obstructions--how to take cart path relief
3.  Rule 25  Abnormal Ground Conditions--casual water, embedded ball...
4.  Rule 26  Water Hazards
5.  Rule 27  Ball Lost or Out of Bounds and Provisional Ball
6.  Rule 28  Ball Unplayable

Learn those six and most of your Rules problems are solved

[John Kavanaugh]

Is it too much to ask that the USGA develope rules that their experts know 100%. How many rules officials score 100% on the exam?  Something like 2%?

[Chris Cupit]

I am not sure 100% is reasonable as no sport has their officials get 100% of things right.  But, as someone who has received perfect scores (99 last year  ) and as someone who does volunteer to help high schools, colleges and at the national championship level, I would support higher standards before officials can officiate at high level events (i.e. any of the 13 National Championships).

An alternative is to let the players go play without any on course officials.  Any question or doubtful situation the players have in stroke play can be resolved by 3-3 and in Match Play it's up to them to decide what to do when they don't know the Rules.  

I really think this would be a good thing as the ideal situation is having the game played and policed only by the players with as little Committee involvement as possible.  I agree that in some circumstances officials have played too big a role in all games.

BUT, wouldn't you agree that it is in the best interest for anyone who wishes to compete in a game, to be as knowledgeable as possible with its Rules?  

[Chris Cupit]

I do think part of the "problem" of having so many Rules that can get very complicated is due to two main facts:

1.  Our game is played out doors on a "field" that is far from uniform and,

2.  Golfers, maybe more than others, have evolved a desire for complete "fairness" in a game that some, like myself, feel WAS a great sporting test of a competitor's ability to overcome obstacles--those fair and "unfair"  in either beating one's opponent or shooting the lowest score possible. 

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