Rockford35
Shark Skin Belt
Ok, I'll need to bring some of this up to speed, but bear with me...
A few weeks ago, someone brought up the question about Vijay "cheating" with his bunker play at a PGA event. Basically, he hit a ball that went from one bunker to another, and in disgust, hit a few practice shots afterwards, actually taking sand with a few shots. The arguement arose that he should be penalized.....here's the link:
http://www.shottalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=715&highlight=Vijay
I basically paraphrased what Augster said in this and sent a question to the USGA to settle this one and for all. I signed off with my name, and that I was from Canada, basically what I do for any e-mail of importance.
The question went something like this (thanks Augster!):
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.
Here's their reply:
Dear Sir,
We would like to answer your Rules of Golf inquiry, however, the USGA may interpret and answer only those Rules of Golf questions originating within the United States and its possessions. Otherwise the R&A of St. Andrews, Scotland has jurisdiction throughout the rest of the world. You may forward questions to your local golf association or the R&A at
R&A Rules Limited
Fife, Scotland KY169JD
www.randa.org
Sincerely,
Bernie Loehr
Rules of Golf Associate
USGA
What the hell is that? The fact that I live in Canada has nothing to do with the question at hand. I made a simple question about Vijay at Doral, and they tell me that they can't answer it because i'm from Canada?
I sent a nasty reply to the effect of "I am astonished and sickened by this response by the USGA. I will be sure to tell everyone I can in the golfing community about the total lack of effort made by the USGA on this task. Thanks so much for wasting my, as well as many others anxious for a reply, time. This is a black day for golf."
I'm such a dink.
Honestly, I don't care, but what the hell is that?
Johnny Miller must work for the USGA. All dinks.
R35
A few weeks ago, someone brought up the question about Vijay "cheating" with his bunker play at a PGA event. Basically, he hit a ball that went from one bunker to another, and in disgust, hit a few practice shots afterwards, actually taking sand with a few shots. The arguement arose that he should be penalized.....here's the link:
http://www.shottalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=715&highlight=Vijay
I basically paraphrased what Augster said in this and sent a question to the USGA to settle this one and for all. I signed off with my name, and that I was from Canada, basically what I do for any e-mail of importance.
The question went something like this (thanks Augster!):
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.
Here's their reply:
Dear Sir,
We would like to answer your Rules of Golf inquiry, however, the USGA may interpret and answer only those Rules of Golf questions originating within the United States and its possessions. Otherwise the R&A of St. Andrews, Scotland has jurisdiction throughout the rest of the world. You may forward questions to your local golf association or the R&A at
R&A Rules Limited
Fife, Scotland KY169JD
www.randa.org
Sincerely,
Bernie Loehr
Rules of Golf Associate
USGA
What the hell is that? The fact that I live in Canada has nothing to do with the question at hand. I made a simple question about Vijay at Doral, and they tell me that they can't answer it because i'm from Canada?
I sent a nasty reply to the effect of "I am astonished and sickened by this response by the USGA. I will be sure to tell everyone I can in the golfing community about the total lack of effort made by the USGA on this task. Thanks so much for wasting my, as well as many others anxious for a reply, time. This is a black day for golf."
I'm such a dink.
Honestly, I don't care, but what the hell is that?
Johnny Miller must work for the USGA. All dinks.
R35
