Southgate Speaks: "I take full responsibility"
James Corrigan of The Telegraph talks to Matthew Southgate about the heartbreaking penalty incurred during the Web.com Tour Playoffs that cost him a PGA Tour card.
From Corrigan's story:
“It was poor from me to not know the rules of a game I’ve played since I was two. I take full responsibility. People say it’s bad luck but it’s not bad luck because I should have replayed the shot and could have made four. But I didn’t and it became nine, and that became me missing my card. I’ve only got myself to blame. I’m not annoyed with anyone else.”
The best wishes of his peers have not assisted much either; and neither has their collective ignorance. I asked 10 different pros at the Dunhill Links if they were aware of that particular rule and all admitted they were not.
Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 10:05 PM
Reader Comments (32)
This one should be changed to give the player the option to replay the shot or accept the consequences.
We already play the "flagstick may be left in the hole on the green" rule because it's much quicker for 2 players, who are bad enough to miss the hole from 3 metres -10 feet. The next one's a gimme anyway. Our cards don't matter becasue we never play competitions or bet - ever.
It's a shame, however, that an article about rules ignorance doesn't make any effort at alleviating
some of that ignorance by providing the text of Rule 19-1 (or at least a reference to it).
Good memory. It was a stamen or something like that.
I would have thought that it was "rub of the green" if a blowing leaf alters the path of your ball.
I play at a course that has a couple of holes with leaf issues, no one would finish the hole if we have to replay every putt that hits a stationary leaf.
Serious question. What is the intent of the rule? I don’t understand it. This rule seems to prevent a rub of the green from occurring. Why does this rule exist?
Thanks in advance for your help in putting this into context.
George
Believe otherwise if you want....
There is little reason to ever touch the ball or replay a shot. Whining about "fairness" misses the point of the game. Hit the ball, find it, and hit it again until it's in the hole. If you insist on "fairness" play TopGolf....
Bud, you don’t need any decisions book for this. Straight out of the Rules.
FYI, R&A and USGA have changed this so it will only happen for people or animals in 2019, not leaves. Makes sense if a dog ran on the green and picked up the ball or an unaware caddie stepped in front of putt. Not for an inanimate leaf.
Kudos to Southgate for recognizing that playing the game doesn't lead to rules knowledge and that those who the play game for a living really should know the rules of that game.
"The rules of golf can be a web of deceit." - FC
George
If, however, an object moves into your line after you've struck the putt, you couldn't have anticipated the action. Whether the result is good or bad, you are required to replay the stroke, without penalty.
Honestly, it seems like a fairly easy and reasonable distinction that tournament players should understand in their teens. I suspect there are plenty of other rules that are better candidates for simplification or elimination.
And we wonder why golf is losing participants.....
Suppose there are two sticks lying on the green forming a neat V leading to the hole. All you'd have to do is putt towards the hole, and the sticks would funnel the ball in.
>>
And you'd be a fool if you removed the sticks before you putted (this hypothetical player is under no obligation to remove those sticks).
Additionally... http://bit.ly/2kxMZ4g
Can one of my fans place loose impediments on the green for me? I'd prefer they do it in V-shaped fashion on either side of the hole.
Why would this rule be limited only to ball on the green? Thanks.