Brian Davis and Slugger White, Verizon Heritage, April 2010
At the Dubai World Championship last November Ian Poulter used TV footage to confirm his suspicion that his marker had moved the golf ball when it had fallen out of his hands in his play off with Robert Karlsson at the Earth Course in Dubai. On realising there might be a infraction Poulter asked for a ruling and on that occasion European Tour referee, Andy McFee, had to inform the player - just before his second last putt of the day on the 18th green - the bad news.
Robert Karlsson won the event and the $1.25 million prize money.
Earlier in 2010 Brian Davis called for a ruling at the Verizon Heritage at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, after forcing a play of with Jim Furyk when he thought he touched a loose impediment with his club during his back swing. On informing the PGA Tour rules chief Slugger White, the repeated slow motion TV reviews determined there had been a breach of Rule 13.4 and a two-shot penalty was in order, leaving Furyk with a simple putt for victory.
For Brian Davis it was a lost chance to secure his maiden victory on the PGA Tour.
On both occasions the players were lauded for their sportsmanship and for respecting the rules of the golf even if the two incidents were only resolved by new technology and slow motion cameras that allowed the referees to visually confirm the players concerns. This was particularly noticeable for Brian Davies as Slugger White had to wait - what seemed liked endless minutes - before the ruling finally came through on the radio.
In Abu Dhabi this week Graeme McDowell was aware that during his third shot on the 18th hole he may have “feathered” the ball – his own words - as the club came behind the ball even if he was fairly sure the ball had not done anything. Again Andy McFee was contacted to have a look at the TV footage and on this occasion was happy the ball had only oscillated.
“If I had done something, obviously it was not something I was trying to do purposely and if that ball had moved off the spot I was in trouble of course. But as I said, I was confident I was okay. I think it was caught on the super slow mo camera, so I was not getting away with anything if it had moved,” explained McDowell afterwards.
Hours later Padraig Harrington finished his opening day with a round of 65 delighted with the new fixes he had adapted into swing and signed for a seven under par round. As the Dubliner was retiring from the course for the day the tournament referee McFee had received an email from a vigilant TV viewer noting an infringement when the three time major winner retrieved his ball marker on the seventh green. Choosing to sleep on the ruling Andy McFee contacted Harrington the next morning and informed him of the problem.
The consequence for Harrington was disqualification for a breach of rule 6-6d, signing for the wrong score on hole seven, as his finger was seen to brush the ball on the TV footage as he removed his marker - causing it to move. Although the movement of the ball during the act of replacing it does not incur a penalty, the ball must be replaced. Given the ball was not replaced Harrington breeched rule 20-3a - incurring a two-shot penalty.
However as the penalty was not included in his final score Harrington signed for a three instead of a five resulting in his exit from the tournament.
In Hawaii earlier this month Colombian golfer Camilo Villegas arrived at the Plantation golf course at Kapalua on day two of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions to be informed that he was disqualified for Rule 6-6d - signing for a wrong score. The issue arose as a result of an infraction committed on the 15th hole when he chipped to the raised green at the par-5 hole and the ball began to roll back to his feet and Villegas used his club to sweep away some turf debris caused by his divot – which brought into play Rule 23-1.
The rule states a player cannot remove a loose impediment that might influence the movement of his ball (When a ball is in motion, a loose impediment that might influence the movement of the ball must not be removed) and the penalty is two strokes. With the penalty, Villegas made 9 on the hole but signed for double-bogey 7. The PGA Tour was notified of the possible rule violation after a TV viewer had seen the opening-round on television.
Slugger White said he got word of the possible infraction the previous night but couldn't do anything about it until he saw the tape himself on the Golf Channel.
"It was pretty obvious what happened," White said. "Unfortunately, Camilo gets the swap under the scoring rule, but he signed an incorrect scorecard for a score lower than he actually made."
“I went to him before I made any formal announcement," White said. "He said he'd like to see it just to learn. I told him what happened. He could not have been bigger. He said it's one of those things. Obviously, he wasn't trying to do anything. He just didn't know."
Camilo Villegas said, "After viewing the tape with Slugger White this morning, it was clear what happened. While it is obviously a disappointing way to start the season, the rules are the rules, and when something like this happens, it's important to me that you're respectful of the game and the people involved."
