This article was supposed to be presented last week but Patrick Reed stole the show. During the same tournament in Torrey Pines, the Tournament Committee decided to have the players play preferred lies for the first 2 rounds.
Preferred lies Local Rule
Under the Rules of golf, a Committee can put into effect a local rule to permit the players to lift, clean and place a ball. The PGA Tour decided to put it in effect on the short grass only and not more than one club-length.
Information on that local rule:
– The player does not have to mark the ball
– The player may change balls
– When using the club length, he may place the ball in the rough
– That club-length must not be in a bunker
– When the ball is on the fringe, the player may place the ball closer to the green but not closer to the hole.
– The ball must not be placed on the green
Weather Channel said that the rain will come in only late on Friday afternoon.
WHY PUT IN EFFECT THAT LOCAL RULE THURSDAY MORNING?
The Committee wanted to make sure every player was competing with the same rules because instead of having half of the field playing in the morning and the other half in the afternoon, they used 2 different golf courses and the pin placements would be the same on both days.
COURSE RECORD
When a competition is played under the Preferred Lies Local Rule, a golf course record would not be official.
COMMENTS:
Some players argued that the preferred lies rule favors less talented players. But I think the Committee took the right decision and we saw many mud balls on the course and that is not fair for players.
PATRICK REED…… The end of the story
Many people said that Rory McIlLroy did the same thing later that day. He did not even ask for a referee because it was so obvious for him that his ball was embedded. We found out a few day later that a volunteer stepped on his ball. This is the reason why it was obviously embedded.
I want to remind all of you that the player is not mandated to call a referee.
