Golf rules: Just curious of others opinions...

[Idiocuse22&]

2 rules officials, Rickie Fowler argue over relief. But Fowler has epic last word

Two rules officials and Rickie Fowler argued over relief during the Charles Schwab Challenge. But Fowler had the epic last word.

golf.com

My initial thought was its a moot point...The guy is standing on a cart path!...free relief. I need to look into official rules for details. To me if the ball rolled up and did not hit the fence, therefore would not be oob...free relief. If it drilled the fence and bounced back...no relief, wouldve been OB. But they didnt take it that far.
Rules cannot be based on hypotheticals and that is how it was ruled...
and rules officials were proved wrong...unless there are fine details within that rule. I doubt it
To me that is embaressing for PGA golf.

Edit: So the rule reads if the ball is close to a property boundary fence then no relief unless local rules are different. Issue is that when a players stance or ball is within a cart path that is free relief. There are no ifs ands or buts within cart path rule but there are for a boundary fence, so ya have to revert to cart path rule.
In this situation, the player was asked that if the cart path was not there would he take the shot...well he did end up taking the shot so the rules officials explanation was theoretically wrong and just hypothetical.
False. Too smart for their own good.

Id be off to LIV

 

[kuethstheman]

Crazy situation! I wonder at what point the officials realized he was really going to take the shot, and if they would have ruled differently, in hindsight.

 

[upperdeck]

I am still confused why there is no relief from standing on that cart path?
you get the same type of issue when you get relief from a drain that leads to a drop then you get relief from a cart path. you don't get relief from the fence but the path.

the reverse could also have been true. he could have been on the path and the only drop could have been next to the fence.. but he would have played it off the path since the fence could have been an issue and no relief from that.

the only way to hit the ball is to stand on the path. Not like he wants to go backwards.

no reason for a pro to take a drop. He could play it full or he could have punched it down that lane. even if the cart path was gone.

And I know you dont get relief if the shot you want to attempt is not reasonable. like if it was in a hole or under a rock. But in a pro world even advancing it 50 yds is good and a reasonable play.

There is also a 3rd option of playing it off the fence which is possible but also risky.

 

[Idiocuse22&]

I am still confused why there is no relief from standing on that cart path?
you get the same type of issue when you get relief from a drain that leads to a drop then you get relief from a cart path. you don't get relief from the fence but the path.

the reverse could also have been true. he could have been on the path and the only drop could have been next to the fence.. but he would have played it off the path since the fence could have been an issue and no relief from that.

the only way to hit the ball is to stand on the path. Not like he wants to go backwards.

no reason for a pro to take a drop. He could play it full or he could have punched it down that lane. even if the cart path was gone.

And I know you dont get relief if the shot you want to attempt is not reasonable. like if it was in a hole or under a rock. But in a pro world even advancing it 50 yds is good and a reasonable play.

There is also a 3rd option of playing it off the fence which is possible but also risky.

To me it is very simple. The rules state that if the cart path interferes with stance, swing or ball it is free relief period.
The rules official asked if the cart path was not there would he attempt the shot...who really cares? His stance was literally in the middle of the cart path, resulting in free relief.
There are no circumstances where cart path rule changes...However, there are circumstances where the fence rule changes. So, clearly cart path rule prevails.

Besides, he hit the ball where it lied...so both of the PGA rules officials were proved wrong on all levels.
If he took a penalty drop...He most likely gets a double bogey...he officially got a bogey without it! Good for him.

This reminds me of a time as a youngster caddying for my gambling addicted uncle in a match against his best friend from birth, also addicted to gambling.
Friendship was not in the cards that day. My uncle was up 20xs, whatever that means? Im thinking 20grand. It took alot of pressing and double or nothings to get there...so on the last hole my uncle hit his approach shot and it ended up under a sort of wooden parking spot curb thing in the parking lot. They both were equally really bad golfers.
They made me go in and find the Pro for the ruling.
Long story short, I think my uncle was in some sort of cahoots prior to the match with the pro, maybe not but that was my initial thought then...his friend was furious and drove to the nearest body of water tossed clubs in & never played golf again.
Uncle Jim won 40K that day I am sure of it.
May they both rest in peace, both left us early and the stress of gambling had alot to do with it.

*Neither of them broke 100 that day...Id guess Uncle Jim 104...Joe 111

 

[upperdeck]

the cart path rule does not apply if the ball is in a position where you would not be expected to hit an actual shot. Like in a bush or drain pipe or in a pile of rocks.

 

[Idiocuse22&]

Ok

the cart path rule does not apply if the ball is in a position where you would not be expected to hit an actual shot. Like in a bush or drain pipe or in a pile of rocks.

But if you did hit the actual shot? I dont play in the PGA but if I am standing on a cart path I am taking a club length free drop away from the damn bush and so is my competitor. But whatever.
Hypotheticals should not have a place in rules, especially when dealing with 2 rules and one of the rules clearly has more leeway...so revert to the the more clear rule-the cart path.
I will have a hard time agreeing with the official ruling.
Potentially if we dug deep into the rules there is a very slight percentage that they ruled correctly, however when the officials based there ruling on him not likely taking the shot as is as the reason for no free relief, when he clearly said that he was going to was a complete embarressment for the officials...get a grip PGA.
I would have taken that shot too, even if it went 8 feet whats the difference of taking a stroke penalty drop?
For me when in doubt just hit the damn ball, in the long run it is always better for a ball hitter. So if I am standing on a cart path, I expect free relief.

The damn cart path caused my ball to bounce into the bush in the first place.