Forum > Tour Talk

Adam Smith

First off, Congratulations to Arjun Atwal who became the first Indian to win on the PGA Tour.

I didn't see it myself but I came across this on another website this morning:

"He even had the courage to blast his approach to the last in the hope of hitting the spectators' tent that was positioned behind the green in order to get a favourable drop shot.

His plan worked perfectly. The ball hit the base of the tent, Atwal was awarded a drop and he made no mistake with his up-and-down, holing a seven-footer to earn the $918,000 (£591,000) top prize and a two-year Tour exemption." 

 What does everyone think? Good thinking? Against the rules of the game????

Colin Coote

fantastic forward thinking.

he definitely played to win

good luck to him

John Pettitt

I don't think for one moment that he did that on purpose, after all he was trying to win the tournament so would rather have been on the green and would have played for the green.

My opinion is that he had an adrenaline rush and that is what caused him to go through the green, and he was fortunate that the dropping zone was in a favourable position. He still had to hole a seven footer, which is not guaranteed.

Stevie Odonnell

Loud Mouth b.a.

"Different mountain top, different God." 

(Quotation from the late Sir Arthur John Gielgud, playing Master Of Trinity College in  'Chariots of Fire'   ).

Russell Middleton

If he deliverately played to hit the spectator tent then that is not golf.

Didn't see the incident myself so I cannot say if he meant it or not.

Russ

Alan Gunnigle

Gary Allen

I think Tiger did it once at Dubia.

2nd shot to the last over water,he took plenty off club hit into the stand so he could

get a drop from drop zone .nobody complained then.

Loud Mouth b.a.

Totally right - if something is not illegal then it's legal but such is not the point.

Rules relating to relief were devised with a view to granting golfers relief when they inadvertently found themselves.....wherever.

To perversely deliberately seek relief is completely contrary to the spirit of the game.

Alan Gunnigle

Loud Mouth b.a.

Alan,

Within the confines of the logic used you are obviously correct.

Unfortunately when rules set up to protect in one situation are perversely used in order to take advantage they arguably require amendment.

It is not only sad that such possible behaviour requires such, but if the relief rule were to be tightened such creates an administrative problem centering on judging a player's intent.

If today's golfers were all gentlemen then relief principles which have stood the test of time would not now possibly require 'putting under the microscope.'

There is of course the possible line of argument that officials do not privately take umbridge at the principle of relief being deliberately targeted. But I can't imagine that being the case for a moment.

Alan Gunnigle

Loud Mouth b.a.

Alan,

You have already answered your question earlier insofar as the way the rules now stand one can deliberately chase relief.  Everything you say on a strict interpretation of the current rules is absolutely correct.

I can't answer what would be the case in the future. It would depend on how the rules were amended. I personally doubt that they will be amended as it would create an impossible to determine situation based on a player's intent.

It matters little, but I feel that if one deliberately hits a ball into a tent then "Yes" one should have to play the ball from where it lies. But, such is possibly for the future and is certainly not the case now. 

Anyway Alan, this has been a good friendly debate. Thanks.

Alan Gunnigle

David Lythgoe

Most good Golfers play the game with slight negative thoughts.

"Which side is the best to miss on?"

If short is in Water, right and left is deep rough and sand but over the back is a Stand and a Drop Zone 10ft off the Putting Surface, any Golfer will Err on being big. It doesn't mean they will aim at the Stand but that is their 'Get Out' area.

Some people think that playing the 18th hole at an Open Championship is one of the hardest things to play.

NO it isn't.

Apart from places like Troon and St Andrews where over the Green is Out of Bounds, you just aim it down the funnel between the Stands. If you miss and end up in, over or under them it is a drop about 20ft off the Green. Really takes the pressure off that second shot.

TheLyth

Colin Coote

Any golfer can play to any part of the course and use it to his own advantage.  if obstructions are deliberately erected on the course no matter where then it is irrelevant as to whether a playing actually attempts to put it where he may get free relief, it is all a part of the course, if a golfer deliberately hits the ball against a wall or obstruction that is actually OOB in the attempt to rebound and get closer to the hole, that is good play.

I would only say that it is if a player plays a shot that is reckless and likely to cause  injury to spectators or players etc. then that becomes unsporting and unethical.

You play the course as you see it, and you play to win.  you take whatever advantage comes your way

John Flood