Check out the video below and see what you think. The relevant part of Rule 13-2 is;
“A player must not improve or allow to be improved:In my opinion this is another in a lengthening number of decisions in favour of the tournament golfer, e.g. those concerning Kenny Perry, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson (click on the names to view the incidents). I am not saying that this is wrong, as I believe that where there is any doubt at all the ruling should respect the honesty and integrity of the players. There are even more recorded incidents where players have called penalties on themselves when there were no cameras, or indeed in some cases no other observers present, that Rules Officials are right to err on the side of leniency where a Rule may have been breached without intent. In golf the onus is on the player to police his own actions.
……… the area in which he is to drop or place a ball,
by any of the following actions:
……….pressing a club on the ground,
……….creating or eliminating irregularities of surface…..
However, the player incurs no penalty if the action occurs:
……….in grounding the club lightly when addressing the ball,
……….in fairly taking his stance,
……….in making a stroke or the backward movement of his club for a stroke and the stroke is made.”
There is an epilogue to the Ramsay incident. He resumed his round at the 17th hole and almost immediately incurred a one-stroke penalty on the last hole for taking the wrong action after finding himself in casual water. Under the watchful eye of chief referee, John Paramor, this time, Ramsay took relief and dropped the ball, but then made the mistake of picking it up without marking it first. His par five on the hole became a bogey six and he signed for a 76. At the conclusion of the four rounds he finished tied for 10th place.
Play by the Rules and enjoy your golf,
Barry Rhodes
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