"There are always positives, but right now I'm not seeing them."

If anyone spots a YouTube clip of Ian Poulter dropping his ball on his backflipping "lucky" marker, please send it along. Not much of a shocker that he was penalized and I must say the Dubai World Championship provided a fitting ending to a year of bizarro rules happenings.

Here's the full wire story.

Asked how frustrating it was the 34-year-old said: "About 20 world ranking points [23 actually], a lovely trophy and about $400,000 – that much frustrating.

"It's a shame it's just ended the way it has and it's not a consolation for me that Robert holed the putt in any case.

"It's a strange rule because if I had dropped the ball on the middle of the marker and it had not moved there's no penalty.

"But I should not drop my ball on it. It's been my lucky marker since the start of the year and has got my kids' names on. There are always positives, but right now I'm not seeing them."

Comments

[chico]

I'm not a poulter fan-been on the wrong side of his bad manners a few too many times-but;
Thought he took this very poor piece of luck on the chin and gave a very good interview when he probably would rather have been doing anything else.So good on him for that-and his golf has been pretty impressive the last few weeks too.

[fourputter]

Although I'm not a Poulter fan, (at least of his public image since I have no personal knowledge of him - although it's noticeable how much it's been modified since he has become so much more successful), there's no denying that his performances, particularly with his short game, have been terrific on the just completed "Far Eastern" sweep. I don't think I've seen anyone put consistently better, ever, than he did in these tournaments.

[fourputter]

"putt consistently better" is of course what I meant to type above! Sorry.

[Not a Poulter Fan]

Karmic retribution for being a miserable C-Unit during the Ryder Cup.

[AK47]

A buddy of mine who knows him says he's not a bad guy and I have noticed he's not the same C Unit lately (maybe because winning breeds happiness) but I've got to admit this guy's probably the best short game wiz in the world right now. He gets up-and-down like ol' Black Jesus used to ...

[digsouth]

a penalty.

what a crock.

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

"It's a shame it's just ended the way it has and it's not a consolation for me that Robert holed the putt in any case."

Is this quote accurate?

Even if Poulter had done no better than a 5, it would still have put a lot more pressure on Karlsson to hole his for the win.

[Phil the Author]

"Not a Poulter Fan"

It was divine, but irony and not retribution, for his properly stretching of the rules and their spirit earlier in the year at the world match play in his match against Sergio.

The rules of golf giveth and they taketh away...

[GeoffC]

I remember looking up this rule in the USGA decisions a number of years back. I interpreted it as there was no penalty if the ball marker moved while the golfer was in the act of initially marking or replacing the ball. Did I misinterpret, has there been a new decision, or is the R&A rule/decision different to the USGA one?

[Used to be Former S&T convert]

Is there a penalty for accidentally dropping a coin on a ball? Which is opposite of Poulter's penalty. I have always thought not.
It would be odd for there to be no penalty for dropping coin on ball, but a penalty for dropping ball on coin.

[tlavin]

Maybe his fingers were slippery from hair gel?

[Aunt Blabbie]

This is another one of golf's b.s. rules. Rock on, Ian.

[GolfFan]

I am a Poulter fan, have been. It was very gracious of him to give an interview after. we all know someone who wouldn't have done so, Mr. Former #1 and NOt returning there very soon, either.

It was massively ingracious of Karlsson to "Thank him for the penalty stroke" right to his face at the prize-giving. A guy trying to make a 25-footer uphill to make you make a three-footer already feels shitty enough after putting it to 3 feet himself 10 minutes before. Lots of class, Karlsson. I doubt it's a Swedish thing or something lost in translation.

Jacka$$ tool

[chico]

Sand T-if you drop your marker on the ball and it moves then its the same-1 shot penalty and replace.
Happened to Tommy Horton a few years back in the Scottish Open when I was reffing.He had criticised the refs that day in the press for slow play-touch of instant karma!

[Steve]

Why does it seem rules aren't an issue until something happens? Nobody has said anything about this rule for who knows how long, then when it happens...it is unfair?

Also, rules are not there due to someone or a committe just making them up for no reason. Obviously something happened at some point that prompted discussion on whether a rule was needed, and if so, what is the penalty. It must have had enough merit to implement the rule in the first place.

[hogan]

If you drop you ball and the marker moves a little, there should be no penalty.

If you drop your ball and the marker moves any amount, there should be no penalty. In fact, if you move your marker (which is taking the place of the ball) accidentally any amount, no penalty.

It follows that if you accidentally move your ball any amount, no penalty. Sounds good to me. Let's go play golf where we can move the ball around accidentally all day!

This ranks right up there with Peter Kostis demanding that a sand filled divot be "ground under repair." So Peter, when does it stop being ground under repair? Two weeks later, 2 months later, never, and who keeps track of the time?