CowboyDan
Anger is a Gift
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It's not an illegal drop, so I don't understand why they've even given him 2 strokes. Here's the rule:
USGA.org 26-1:
Relief For Ball In Water Hazard:
If a ball is found in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke:
a. Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or
b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or
c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.
When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and clean his ball or substitute a ball.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
There it is, plain as day, in the rule. Where's the infraction? Are they penalizing him for being smart? Here's the thing that really bugs me:
"It was not deemed illegal at the time, but as FOXSports.com's Robert Lusetich reported, Woods' own words gave the rules committee cause for concern.
The rules committee had already been informed of a possible problem while Woods was on the course but made a determination he was OK. The about-face came after learning what he had said about moving two yards back."
What's overshadowed in all this is how perfect his second shot was. He had to regroup after being cheated out of a brilliant approach shot, and he drops it and hits another perfect pitch for a tap-in.
USGA.org 26-1:
Relief For Ball In Water Hazard:
If a ball is found in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke:
a. Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or
b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or
c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.
When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and clean his ball or substitute a ball.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
There it is, plain as day, in the rule. Where's the infraction? Are they penalizing him for being smart? Here's the thing that really bugs me:
"It was not deemed illegal at the time, but as FOXSports.com's Robert Lusetich reported, Woods' own words gave the rules committee cause for concern.
The rules committee had already been informed of a possible problem while Woods was on the course but made a determination he was OK. The about-face came after learning what he had said about moving two yards back."
What's overshadowed in all this is how perfect his second shot was. He had to regroup after being cheated out of a brilliant approach shot, and he drops it and hits another perfect pitch for a tap-in.