On April, 25th, 2017, the USGA and the R&A have issued a new decision on the Rules of Golf to limit the use of video evidence. This new decision is in effect immediately.
Decision 34-3/10: The use of video evidence won’t be accepted in the 2 following cases:
- evidence could not reasonably be seen with the naked eye. (as an example a few grain of sand touched when taking a backswing in a bunker or a ball moved only slightly)
- The players had used reasonable judgment to determine a specific location when applying the Rules.
But there is no change on any other type of breaches even if a caller gives the information the next day.
I don’t think this decision would have made any difference in the case of Lexi Thompson last month or for that matter Tiger Woods at the Masters in 2013. Not knowing the rules or bending the application of an actual rule should not get you absolved.
More players, after reviewing the video of Lexi’s breach for playing from the wrong place have decided not to comment anymore, the breach was quite obvious. Everybody loves Lexi but……
The different pro tours will continue to take all calls and until the competition is closed, it is never too late to penalise a player.