Rules "violations" highlight need for changes

I just read an interesting piece on Golf Channel’s website about the oddities of rules violations on the PGA tour this year. See http://www.thegolfchannel.com/tour-insider/poulters-blunder-latest-year-bizarre-rulings-40539/

Since my main career as a District Judge and lawyer involve interpretation of laws and rules, I feel compelled to comment.

There have been many times over the years when supposed rules violations have cost players victories or many thousands of dollars. The situation has gotten more and more attention as television covers a greater number of holes in an increasing number of tournaments.

Remember years ago when Raymond Floyd was penalized for “building a stance”? He had placed a towel on the ground to protect his knees and pants from the wet ground when he had to kneel to hit a shot. It was ridiculous. He was trying to keep his pants clean, not build a stance. He got no advantage from the towel.

Last week, Ian Poulter was penalized a shot when he dropped his ball on his ball marker, and it moved. It may have cost him more than $400,000. As reported on the Golf Channel web site, “Jeff Hall of the USGA points out, the marker is the equivalent of the ball. If Poulter’s ball had been on the green and moved ever so slightly, “I suspect most people wouldn’t have the emotional connection to a penalty,” Hall said.

“At the end of the day, our rules are clear,” Hall said. “Our game is unique from all others. It requires us to know the rules.”

Well, I disagree, Mr. Hall. Movement by Poulter’s ball on the green would only have resulted in a penalty if he had addressed it.

I also disagree with the penalty assessed to Dustin Johnson at the PGA, which cost him a chance at a playoff. The issue came down to whether he was in a clearly defined bunker. The officials said he was. I don’t think so.

I really think that the Rules of Golf need to be changed to account for plain violations which result in an advantage to a player and inadvertent ones which do not. I’d also like to see players be assigned a rules advocate. And yes, Mr. and Mrs. USGA, I’d be willing to volunteer.

Tiger now merely superb

I feel like I need to comment on the very unusual occurrence of Tiger Woods losing a final round lead to let a tournament victory slip away. Yesterday, in case you didn’t notice, Tiger scored a 7 on a par 5 on the 13th hole. 2010 U.S. Open champ Graeme McDowell, meanwhile had a birdie 4. The 3 shot swing took Tiger from 1 shot ahead to 2 behind. He rallied to tie it up, but McDowell sank a superb putt in the playoff to seal the victory.
A few years ago, this kind of thing was unthinkable. Tiger was the greatest player in the world, and he almost never missed a shot or a putt when it mattered most. Now it appears that Tiger is merely a fantastic player, and not heads and shoulders above all others.
Tiger has been through a world of problems in the last year: A car accident, all sorts of tawdry revelations about his personal life, a divorce, lost endorsements, and who knows what else.
I blame Tiger’s mere excellence on more than just those things. The fact is, is that there are many great players coming up who are playing brilliantly and whose competitive spirit will drive them to try ever harder to beat the best in the world – Tiger. Besides McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Camillo Villegas, Paul Casey, Justin Rose and many others are poised to compete.
The 2011 tour starts in early January. It should be a very entertaining show. Tune in.