Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Lexi Thompson Assessed 4 Stroke Penalty, Loses Championship in Playoff!
View Single Post
 
Old 04-03-2017, 07:28 PM
Dr Winston O Boogie jr's Avatar
Dr Winston O Boogie jr Dr Winston O Boogie jr is offline
Sage
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 7,940
Thanks: 1
Thanked 2,157 Times in 772 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikeod View Post
I think how it was detected DOES matter. IMO, a primary function of the ROG is to maintain a level field for all competitors. The intrusion of TV into the competition should be no more than that of a spectator attending the event. The officials running these tournaments should not accept any input from outside the competition committee, walking officials, or competitors.

In this particular case, the incidental/accidental error in replacing the ball wasn't apparent to her fellow competitors, walking scorer, or attending official. It was only apparent with a close-up camera shot, similar to the Furyk penalty a couple of years ago when his ball moved about dimple after replacing it. The additional scrutiny from TV coverage tilts the field to the detriment of those covered by placing every move they make under a microscope. A condition the vast majority of players don't have to experience.
I agree with much of what you say, but once the officials are made aware that a violation had occurred it's their duty and responsibility to look into the matter and assess appropriate penalties.

For example let's say that a rules official is standing near the gallery of the 18th hole of a tournament and overhears a spectator say, "She should know how this putt breaks. I saw her practicing on this green this morning."

In that case, a competitor violated a rule for which the penalty is disqualification. It would be difficult to convince me that a player on any of the professional tours doesn't know this rule. I would have to assume that it was done intentionally and with the intent of gaining an advantage.

Should the rules official ignore that comment or should she investigate it? Should isn't it the responsibility of the official to ensure that all players play by the rules.

I agree that something has to be done about people calling in while watching on television. I'm not sure what the answer is, but once an official has information that a rule has been violated, it is up to that official to act upon that information regardless of the source.

I don't think that you can simply say that they shouldn't listen to information from any one source. What if it's a flagrant, intentional violation that no one in the players group sees. I'd lean more to giving officials more discretion in deciding if the violation was intentional and affected the player's score.

I'd also like to see them do away with the penalty for signing an incorrect scorecard wen they are not aware that that had broken a rule.

It's a pretty complex problem and IMHO, and hopefully, The USGA will work to find an answer.
__________________
The Beatlemaniacs of The Villages meet every Friday 10:00am at the O'Dell Recreation Center.

"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend." - Thomas Jefferson to William Hamilton, April 22, 1800.

Last edited by Dr Winston O Boogie jr; 04-03-2017 at 07:36 PM.