True golf rules...

Brian Davis called a two-stroke penalty on himself on the first playoff hole Sunday to give Jim Furyk a victory at the Verizon Heritage.

Davis, an Englishman who’s never won on the PGA Tour, used a birdie on the 72nd hole to force the extra hole. However, Davis’ approach rolled off the green of the lighthouse hole and into some rocks.

As Davis attempted to chip on, his wedge moved a loose reed in the marshy area. Davis quickly called for a rules official, who after calling colleagues to check the replay, confirmed the penalty.

“I thought I saw movement,” Davis said. “It’s a disappointment.”

Davis conceded to Furyk before the world’s sixth-ranked player putted out.

Furyk shot a 69 to finish at 13-under 271. The victory was his 15th PGA Tour win and second since March, earning him $1.026 million.

Furyk was also disappointed the splendid duel between he and Davis at the end was spoiled by a rules violation.

“To have the tournament come down that way is definitely not the way I wanted to win,” Furyk said. “It’s obviously a tough loss for him and I respect and admire what he did.”

Davis nearly won in regulation, his approach to his final hole scaring the cup before settling 18 feet away. His birdie putt had just enough steam to drop in and force the extra hole.

Instead of riding that momentum into the playoff, his second shot rolled off the side toward Calibogue Sound and rattled around the rocks before stopping on some hard-packed sand.

That’s when Davis ended the drama with his self-imposed violation, something inconceivable in most other sports, where competitors take pride in getting every edge they can.

Wow you stayed up to watch this?
These days with tv coverage, dun think he wanna do a 'Michelle Wie' who tried to pull a fast one in her last event
he is doing wat this game demands of all golfers, integrity.

Last week I saw Asian Tour highlights on TV also. One player putted from inside the green (but quite far from the hole), and the caddy was soooo blur until she didn't take out the flag when the ball rolled to the hole, and the ball bounced off the flagstick.. There goes his birdie chance... but then the worse part is...

Two strokes penalty.

Which rules state this ?

when ball on green, flagstick is suppose to be taken out. If u hv a long putt and your caddy is holding for u, if he forgot to take out and ur ball strikes the flag, penalty as well

yup, it's in the rules. 2-stroke penalty for ball struck on green hitting the flagstick, no matter where it is.

i remember there was a hoohaa in the inter-school tournament when a competitor left the pin in the hole when her opponent was putting and caused her a 2-stoke penalty.

Teaches the player to take responsibility

weesern wrote:

Teaches the player to take responsibility

This is Asian Tour... not weekend warriors type of player. The caddy is responsible to take out the stick for the player if it's far from the green right ? At least they should know about this...

The player was so frustrated, but then can't scold the caddy too....

Well, if this is to happen during my weekly golf game, I will not enforce the penalty.
Just have a tease about it and move on.

coming back to the Asian tour event, I am sure the caddie rues the mistake too, especially if
the 2 strokes make a big difference to the golfer's winnings, therein his cut of the winnings.

daveaha wrote:

weesern wrote:

Teaches the player to take responsibility

This is Asian Tour... not weekend warriors type of player. The caddy is responsible to take out the stick for the player if it's far from the green right ? At least they should know about this...

The player was so frustrated, but then can't scold the caddy too....

I'm referring to the inter-school tournament zhenxua posted.

For Asian tour, I feel sad for the player...

Great example of integrity from Brian Davis.
If he had won, this would have been his maiden PGA victory and USD1.026 million prize money.
Watching it on Golf Channel, it was HARDLY noticeable as it was only one strand of straw on his backswing.

He has won many new fans and I know I will be looking for his name come next tournament.

wonder how michelle wie would interpret that rule (Rule 13.4)....

here a rule for you to ponder, If you’re chipping or putting off the green you should ensure that no-one is standing near enough to the flagstick to touch it.

Note 1 to Rule 17-1 states that if the flagstick is in the hole and anyone stands near it while a stroke is being made they are deemed to be attending it. So, if your ball then hits the flagstick you incur a two stroke penalty, even though you were playing off the green (Rule 17.3).

I came across this and it sounded so strange that I remember it.