Forum > Rules and Etiquette

John Flood

Just waiting to see if Dustin Johnston gets a 2 shot penalty for grounding his club in what looked like a bit of waste land. His ball landed in the middle of a crowd but their now saying that all sand on the course is deemed as bunkers!!

You got to feel sorry for him!

John Flood

Yep, he got a 2 shot penalty.

How they can class an area where about 100 people were standing prior to his shot as a bunker is unbelievable.

In golf rules is rules but some seem harsher than others.

Patrick Moore

It was said at start of tourn that all in play, doesn't make it right however and IMO the whole bunker grounding rule is pathetic anyway.

If he made the putt on 18 though, i'd like to have seen the scenes that would have followed.

Good luck to both I think Bubba will doit though

John Flood

Adam Smith

Incredible!! Just writing the report now, going to take me a while!!

Whilst we are talking about the PGA, forget the rules for a second because that is going to roll on for a long time, but how many times were players put off or had to stop because of camera's!

Porr Nick Watney on the 7th and even Kaymer in the play-off on the 18th! When are these people going to learn!

Also dumb American's shouting 'In the hole' or even 'mashed potato'! (Did anyone else hear that?)

So annoying!

Lewis Gladstone-buchanan

Colin Coote

Adam

i never saw the golf at all, but i can agree with what your saying with the shouting.

But the USPGA allow this childish behaviour and in so doing endorse it as a part of the game, so until they come along and throw those morons who resort to such pathetic shouting straight out of the course it will unfortunately have to be tolerated by the more sensible spectators.

personally if it were to happen in my presence i would request that they either shut up or leave.

in my opinion all spectators should show good etiquette on the course to fellow spectators and golfers.  That is a requirement of all golfers and its about time the R&A along with the USPGA grow a pair and dealt with this properly.

as for the cameras', at no point should these be allowed to interfere with the playing of the game.  

The 2 shot penalty looks severe and in hindsight the committee who made the decision will probably decide it should be managed better, most probably by not allowing spectators to stand in the bunkers.  

But all of the players were informed of the Rules and this was in the closing stages of the 4th round so basically it was down to the player himself and his caddy to have realised where they were playing from.

This area of ground could have been GUR, what would have been the penalty had it been GUR and he played from it???????

The only mistake the committee made was by allowing the spectators to stand in an area that was a bunker.  that makes those in charge as bright as pig s.h.one.t.

Adam Smith

Absolutly agree Colin,

Even the commentators were saying the shouting should stop and the culprits either told politly to shut up or leave.

I know the players don't like it either, but it will carry on so they will have to just deal with it.

If you have been sheltered from exsistance for the last 24 hours and don't know what went on read my report:

http://www.golfshake.com/news/view/1776/Kaiser_Kaymer_wins_controversial_
USPGA_Championship.html

John Flood

Adam,

did you see the interview with the PGA rules chairman. He was basically saying that the course is very unique & they are 'generous' with their roping for spectators & that they had made it very clear in the rules & even put notices in the locker room warning players that all sand areas are deemed as bunkers.

Also as well he actually grounded his club TWICE but can only be penalised once for the same offence.

David Lythgoe

The Dumb thing about the cameras were that they were in the hands of PGA Pro's and Professional Photographers, not the Public.

As for Dustin Johnson, his body language and his explanation didn't match. It would have been possible for the spectators to have broken the edges of the bunkers (HAZARDS) over the course of the week and the question of the sand being in or out of a bunker. The PGA had but notices of 1200 bunker locations in prominent locations so all Players and Caddies should have been aware. When DJ first approached his ball on the 18th he grounded his club, then looked around with a look of puzzlement. Got a shaft of light taken away from his ball and then grounded his club again as he prepared and hit his second shot. I know that a Players brain can be fuzzled when leading a Major down the 72nd hole but I think he knew of these bunkers but thought that it was damaged and he wasn't actually in one. A fatal mistake.

Well done Martin, another European Major Champion.

TheLyth

Adam Smith

Yeah I did see it John, thought it was a very good interview.

He cleared stated the rules and clearly stated that the players should know them, so down to personal mistake I'm afraid. Think his caddie should also take some flack, isn't thank what he's around for?

Full credit to DJ though I thought he conducted himself brilliantly afterwards and fully accepted the ruling. I think deep down he knew he was in the wrong.

Lyth, it is ashame about the camera's as these people are meant to be professionals.

I think with all this blow-out about DJ, Martin is not getting enough credit, fully agree with your praise, nearly faultless final round. Great addition to the European squad for Ryder Cup.

Foursomes partner with Langer anybody????

David Lythgoe

Adam,

If Westwood can't get fit, replaced by Langer. No problem.

TheLyth

David Marshall

Martin Millichip

Martin Millichip

David Marshall

Got to have a dig at your brother, Martin..He has enough at me  !!!!!!

And, congratulations to you

Dave ley

It ain't you C#ck No , seriouly Mart well done  on qualifing twice, are you going to go for the hat trick ?

No sympathy here they were given all the local rules in writing ang posted in the locker rooms, spectaters have to stand somewhere and the pro's don't complain about the grasss trampled down and get a good lie when they should be up to there knees in rough, and if that was a cart path behind the ropes they would expect relief . The who ha is purely because it's on the 18th of the final round  of a Major which he could have won,From what I could see of it I thought it was a bunker and thought great he can't get there in two.

Dave ley

This should clear it up, plus some priceless chat as a bonus from Steve Elkington.

http://www.twithear.com/playaudio.php?.eB,d.V5b2n3qysEraPIkNprkD
hMDd6G91DsTBPj.7svA1YyNIB1iA//bl01

Adam Smith

Darren Millichip

had a spot of bother with playing out of a bunker

as i recall dave i didnt have no problem playing out of the bunker

once all the leaves had gone

Dave ley