In the past weeks we have witnessed a few issues with the Rules of Golf and some PGA Tour players were not very happy.
JUSTIN THOMAS – VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP https://www.golfmagic.com/pga-tour/justin-thomas-involved-rules-debate-valspar-doesn’t-make-sense
A player always gets a free relief from a Temporary Immovable Obstructions (TIOs). Grandstand, Publicity banner, etc.) But when the PGA Tour has a tournament on some courses, they must decide the boundaries and they often put temporary fences. A player does not get free relief when a boundary fence is on the course, even if it is temporary. Thomas was really upset when the Referee denied a free relief.
Temporary Out of Bound fences are common in golf courses or resorts with many private or houses or condos. For the views of the owners, when there is no tournaments, we don’t see any fences. With spectators in a tournament, we must do it, it is easier for crowd control.
THOMAS PIETERS – ACCENTURE MATH PLAY https://www.golfdigest.com/story/bryson-pieters-rules-match-play
When a committee makes a mistake in marking a golf course, in Stroke Play we don’t make any changes until all the players completed the round. In Match Play, we have a lot of options.
In Match Play, it is only between two players. Decisions only involves the two players. In that case, the referee saw the red line and had to rule the ball was in the penalty area and the player did not get a free relief.
A few minutes later, DeChambeau found his ball in the same place. Because the Committee had decided to change the marking following Pieters situation, they granted DeChambeau a free relief even if the marking was not changed yet.
COMMENT: The PGA Tour has a huge budget, and it is surprising to hear they did not take to time to double check all the markings. The staffer in charge of putting down the paint on the ground received a gust of wind when he was applying the paint and the red line went over the sprinkler. He did not do anything to correct it.
It is always possible to make mistakes in marking a golf course, but I always take time to check again and again especially around greens to make sure everything is right. In one of my 2-day tournaments I always take at least 2 days to do the marking.
