- Mar 9, 2005
- 1,473
- 23
I'm sorry, I have to get this off my chest. Hopefully someone here knows somebody, a writer, a rules official, ANYONE, involved with the PGA Tour. I have been trying since Sunday night. First, to get a hold of and make sure Vijay didn't sign and incorrect card. Then, after the round, to make sure he was DQ'd for signing said incorrect card.
Watching Doral Sunday, I couldn't believe NOBODY said anything about it. I have tried contacting the PGA Tour via email. Of course nobody gets back to me, same as after the Nissan. So, I CALL the PGA Tour, get a voicemail, and nothing is done about it. I wrote an email to Golf Central on TGC HOPING that maybe THEY'd follow up on it. I wrote to the USGA also just to make sure I MYSELF am playing the Rule Correctly. The USGA usually takes 3 or 4 weeks to get back to you, but they do get back. I also wrote to Gary Van Sickel's mailbag at CNNSI.com where I've gotten in before.
It's not that I care to take away Vijay's $310,000 or anything. I'd just like to create AWARENESS. I'd hate, later in the year, if Vijay, OR ANYBODY, lost in a major because THIS TIME somebody called them on it. I just can't believe I'm the ONLY PERSON IN AMERICA that saw it.
Here it is. If you have it Tivo'd or taped, go back and look at it if you don't believe me.
Sunday at Doral Vijay is slowly making a move and knows he needs to score on the Par 5 10th to get back with Phil and Tiger. He goes for the green in two, ending up in the greenside bunker. His 3rd shot, he chunks into a different bunker closer to the green.
Now, granted, it initially looked like his ball was going to catch on the grass above the bunker, but if you watch, the ball clearly rolls back into the bunker AND his next shot is played from the bunker. He makes a sand save for par from the second bunker.
Here is the violation. After Vijay chunked his 3rd shot into the different bunker, he proceeded to take AT LEAST two practice swings in the previous bunker, bringing up sand both times! He was rearing back for a 3rd swing when the camera cuts away. This is in DIRECT VIOLATION of Rule 13-4a!
Rule 13-4a says you can't test the conditions of the hazard OR ANY LIKE HAZARD! If your ball is in a bunker, you can't practice your sand shot digging up sand in a different bunker. Likewise, if your ball is 1/2 in, 1/2 out of water hazard, you can't find a different nearby hazard and practice the shot.
I think either Vijay ONLY saw his 3rd shot land on the grass and stopped watching, or more likely, just doesn't know the rule. What amazed me is EVERY GROUP has a rules official with them. NOTHING.
I'm sorry for such a long first post, but I have to get the word out. Does anyone know if this is correct? Am I reading the rule correctly? I am pretty sure I am. I have my answer coming back from the USGA, eventually, but I was really hoping to get something done about this while Doral is still in the news. Hell, I've been trying since Sunday night.
I know the PGA Tour has their own rules for a lot of things. Immovable obstructions for instance. They deviate from the USGA Rules of Golf, but usually, only if it involves possibly getting spectators hurt. I can't imagine they have a rule circumventing Rule 13-4 because it isn't a safety issue. I'd just hate to see somebody LOSE a US OPEN, where they play by ALL the Rules of Golf, because they didn't know this. The way I read it, you can't even slam your club into the sand in frustration in the same situation.
Thanks for listening.
Augster
Watching Doral Sunday, I couldn't believe NOBODY said anything about it. I have tried contacting the PGA Tour via email. Of course nobody gets back to me, same as after the Nissan. So, I CALL the PGA Tour, get a voicemail, and nothing is done about it. I wrote an email to Golf Central on TGC HOPING that maybe THEY'd follow up on it. I wrote to the USGA also just to make sure I MYSELF am playing the Rule Correctly. The USGA usually takes 3 or 4 weeks to get back to you, but they do get back. I also wrote to Gary Van Sickel's mailbag at CNNSI.com where I've gotten in before.
It's not that I care to take away Vijay's $310,000 or anything. I'd just like to create AWARENESS. I'd hate, later in the year, if Vijay, OR ANYBODY, lost in a major because THIS TIME somebody called them on it. I just can't believe I'm the ONLY PERSON IN AMERICA that saw it.
Here it is. If you have it Tivo'd or taped, go back and look at it if you don't believe me.
Sunday at Doral Vijay is slowly making a move and knows he needs to score on the Par 5 10th to get back with Phil and Tiger. He goes for the green in two, ending up in the greenside bunker. His 3rd shot, he chunks into a different bunker closer to the green.
Now, granted, it initially looked like his ball was going to catch on the grass above the bunker, but if you watch, the ball clearly rolls back into the bunker AND his next shot is played from the bunker. He makes a sand save for par from the second bunker.
Here is the violation. After Vijay chunked his 3rd shot into the different bunker, he proceeded to take AT LEAST two practice swings in the previous bunker, bringing up sand both times! He was rearing back for a 3rd swing when the camera cuts away. This is in DIRECT VIOLATION of Rule 13-4a!
Rule 13-4a says you can't test the conditions of the hazard OR ANY LIKE HAZARD! If your ball is in a bunker, you can't practice your sand shot digging up sand in a different bunker. Likewise, if your ball is 1/2 in, 1/2 out of water hazard, you can't find a different nearby hazard and practice the shot.
I think either Vijay ONLY saw his 3rd shot land on the grass and stopped watching, or more likely, just doesn't know the rule. What amazed me is EVERY GROUP has a rules official with them. NOTHING.
I'm sorry for such a long first post, but I have to get the word out. Does anyone know if this is correct? Am I reading the rule correctly? I am pretty sure I am. I have my answer coming back from the USGA, eventually, but I was really hoping to get something done about this while Doral is still in the news. Hell, I've been trying since Sunday night.
I know the PGA Tour has their own rules for a lot of things. Immovable obstructions for instance. They deviate from the USGA Rules of Golf, but usually, only if it involves possibly getting spectators hurt. I can't imagine they have a rule circumventing Rule 13-4 because it isn't a safety issue. I'd just hate to see somebody LOSE a US OPEN, where they play by ALL the Rules of Golf, because they didn't know this. The way I read it, you can't even slam your club into the sand in frustration in the same situation.
Thanks for listening.
Augster