Lift and Clean

Just watching the Crown Plaza Invitational from Texas on CNBC. I know there is plenty of water on the course, but they are playing lift, clean and place, through the green. I didn't know there was a waiver in golf rules that allowed this. Surely rough is rough and it is play as found when off the fairway. A new one on me!

Even when in the rough or bunkers you get relief from casual water.

They weren't just getting relief, they were lifting and cleaning whatever!

I was there......the roughs were pure muck. You had embedded balls...you had balls that were completely covered with mud.....they really didn't have a choice but to make it lift and clean. I was also at the Byron......much better conditions as the roughs were much thicker and had a much better stand of turf.....and they still got relief from embedded lies.

The Rules say preferred lies are restricted to close mown areas but the RBs are now relaxing their view and in very extreme conditions they will allow LCP through the green. We may see a change.

Article here on lifting and dropping >>

http://www.golfshake.com/improve/view/5035/Golf_Rules_Lifting_and_Dropping_a_Ball.html

pereferred lies and winter rules >>

http://www.golfshake.com/improve/view/6494/Preferred_Lies_and_Winter_Rules.html

There is of course another Local Rule that permits Lift, Clean and Replaced through the green