RULEBOOK
Dean Ryan, RCGA Governor/Rules Official
Getting It Right For The Game
Unlike other sports, golf is played, for the most part, without a referee or rules official. The game relies
on the integrity of players to abide by the Rules. However, when a rules official or officials have been
appointed by the Committee, their responsibilities are clearly defined by the Rules of Golf: ‘A referee
must act on any breach of a Rule that he observes or is reported to him’.
Just such a situation arose at this year’s Masters. It occurred during the second round of play, when
a possible Rules infraction was brought to the attention of Augusta National’s Rules Committee.
The incident involved the 19-year-old golfing phenom, Rory McIlroy. It occurred at the end of a long
day for the talented young Irishman. McIlroy had hit his ball into the greenside bunker on the difficult,
par 4, 18
th
hole. He played a delicate bunker shot, but failed to extradite the ball from the sand.
Having failed to get the ball out with the first attempt, the frustrated McIlroy, apparently kicked or
brushed the sand with his foot, where the ball had lay. McIlroy extracted the ball on his second try
and went on to post a 7 for the hole.
At issue was the question whether Rory’s action of kicking the sand, while his ball was still in the
bunker, constituted a breach of Rule 13-4a, which states: ‘When a player’s ball lies in a hazard
(bunker), the player must not test the condition of the hazard or similar hazard’.
Get Your
To further complicate his problems, McIlroy had already returned his scorecard and left the course,
Message Out
before officials were advised of the issue. Thus meaning, that should McIlroy’s actions in the bunker
be considered a breach of the Rules, he would be disqualified, for returning a score for a hole lower
than actually taken (Rule 6-6d).
To Over
McIlroy was tracked down in Augusta around 8:30pm and asked to return to the club to discuss the
20,000 Golfers
incident with the Rules Committee. After interviewing Rory and reviewing videotape, the Committee
reached their decision early in the wee hours of the morning.
Each Month
Fred Ridley, the chairman of the Augusta National Competitions Committee, released the following
statement regarding Rory McIlroy’s actions.
This Space Could Be
“Based on the tape and Mr McIlroy’s statement of what had taken place after he played the shot it
was determined that no violation of the rules had occurred.
Yours For As Low As
The Rules allow the player to smooth sand or soil in the hazard after making a stroke provided that,
$150 / month
with regard to his next stroke, nothing is done to improve the position or lie of his ball, the area of his
intended swing, his line of play or a reasonable extension of his line beyond the hole or the area in
which he is to drop or place a ball (Exception 1 to Rule 13-4)”.
Being privileged to serve on the Rules Committee for this year’s Masters, I am proud to say that not
only did the Committee go to extraordinary lengths in rendering its decision, the right decision was
made. Not just for Rory, but for the game of golf.
Call 613.821.0888
For more information on Rule 13-4 or any other Rule, or to purchase a copy of The Rules of Golf or
The Decisions on the Rules of Golf, visit the RCGA website at
www.rcga.org.
For More Details
88 FGM MAY 2009
flagstick.com
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