- Mar 9, 2005
- 1,473
- 23
Well gents, it turns out I was correct. Since the competition is LONG since over, there is nothing they can do about it. Getting Vijay DQ'd was not really my mission. Finding out whether WE, your average everyday golfers, can test the conditions of a hazard in the same situation Vijay was in.
As it turns out, we can't.
First, here's my original email:
I need a clarification of Rule 13-4. I think I'm right, as I know how
to read, and just want your back up.
Ford Open at Doral, 10th hole, Sunday. Vijay Singh is in a bunker,
chunks it to another bunker. He proceeds to take AT LEAST two practice
swings, in the bunker, bringing up sand BOTH TIMES. He was about to do
a 3rd as the camera pulled away.
As I read it, this is in direct violation of Rule 13-4a Test the
condition of the hazard or any similiar hazard. If he did it
twice(that I KNOW of) he should have been asessed 4 penalty strokes. As it is, he signed an incorrect scorecard, which is a DQ, so the scoring is moot.
I just want to know for my next round.
I have always played it the way I READ it in Rule 13-4. Am I wrong? I
know, if the ball ended in a different spot in the same bunker I'd be
able to rake the previous spot as long as it doesn't unfairly affect my
next shot.
Not a single mention of it came from the announcers. It ruined the
rest
of the afternoon for me. Doesn't ANYONE know the rules? So, maybe I'm
wrong and I've been playing "too strict".
Thanks for any answers you can provide.
AND NOW THE USGA's Final Reply:
Dear Sir,
During play of the 10th hole in the fourth round of the 2005 Ford
Championship at Doral, Vijay Singh played his third stroke from a
fairway bunker, resulting in his ball coming to rest in a greenside
bunker. Subsequent to the ball coming to rest in the greenside bunker,
Mr. Singh took two practice swings in the fairway bunker contacting the
ground with both practice swings.
Rule 13-4a prohibits a player, when his ball lies in a hazard, from
testing the condition of the hazard or a similar hazard. By striking
the sand in the fairway bunker with these practice swings when his ball
lay in the greenside bunker, Mr. Singh was in breach of Rule 13-4a.
The penalty, in stroke play, for this breach is two strokes regardless of
the number of practice swings taken by the player (see Decision
1-4/12).
Neither Mr. Singh nor the Committee in charge of the Ford Championship
at Doral were aware that Mr. Singh had been in breach of Rule 13-4a
prior to the close of the competition; therefore, as provided in Rule
34-1b, the penalty was not applied.
The Rules of Golf Committees of the USGA and R&A have discussed the
issue of testing the condition of hazards and will continue to do so.
Thank you for your interest in the Rules of Golf. The Rules and
Decision mentioned above along with Frequently Asked Questions on the
Rules of Golf can be found on the USGA's website at
http://www.usga.org/rules.
Sincerely,
Bernie Loehr
Rules of Golf Associate
USGA
As it turns out, we can't.
First, here's my original email:
I need a clarification of Rule 13-4. I think I'm right, as I know how
to read, and just want your back up.
Ford Open at Doral, 10th hole, Sunday. Vijay Singh is in a bunker,
chunks it to another bunker. He proceeds to take AT LEAST two practice
swings, in the bunker, bringing up sand BOTH TIMES. He was about to do
a 3rd as the camera pulled away.
As I read it, this is in direct violation of Rule 13-4a Test the
condition of the hazard or any similiar hazard. If he did it
twice(that I KNOW of) he should have been asessed 4 penalty strokes. As it is, he signed an incorrect scorecard, which is a DQ, so the scoring is moot.
I just want to know for my next round.
I have always played it the way I READ it in Rule 13-4. Am I wrong? I
know, if the ball ended in a different spot in the same bunker I'd be
able to rake the previous spot as long as it doesn't unfairly affect my
next shot.
Not a single mention of it came from the announcers. It ruined the
rest
of the afternoon for me. Doesn't ANYONE know the rules? So, maybe I'm
wrong and I've been playing "too strict".
Thanks for any answers you can provide.
AND NOW THE USGA's Final Reply:
Dear Sir,
During play of the 10th hole in the fourth round of the 2005 Ford
Championship at Doral, Vijay Singh played his third stroke from a
fairway bunker, resulting in his ball coming to rest in a greenside
bunker. Subsequent to the ball coming to rest in the greenside bunker,
Mr. Singh took two practice swings in the fairway bunker contacting the
ground with both practice swings.
Rule 13-4a prohibits a player, when his ball lies in a hazard, from
testing the condition of the hazard or a similar hazard. By striking
the sand in the fairway bunker with these practice swings when his ball
lay in the greenside bunker, Mr. Singh was in breach of Rule 13-4a.
The penalty, in stroke play, for this breach is two strokes regardless of
the number of practice swings taken by the player (see Decision
1-4/12).
Neither Mr. Singh nor the Committee in charge of the Ford Championship
at Doral were aware that Mr. Singh had been in breach of Rule 13-4a
prior to the close of the competition; therefore, as provided in Rule
34-1b, the penalty was not applied.
The Rules of Golf Committees of the USGA and R&A have discussed the
issue of testing the condition of hazards and will continue to do so.
Thank you for your interest in the Rules of Golf. The Rules and
Decision mentioned above along with Frequently Asked Questions on the
Rules of Golf can be found on the USGA's website at
http://www.usga.org/rules.
Sincerely,
Bernie Loehr
Rules of Golf Associate
USGA