USGA & Ball Moved While At Rest (Right or Wrong?)

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By Dino J

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  • 18 Replies
  1. Dino J

    Dino J
    Burnaby, BC

    Hi Fellow TT'ers,

    A big hats off to DJ for finally winning a major - and the US Open at that after his heartbreak at Whistling Straits and again last year.

    So fellow TT'ers ... did the USGA screw up or did they apply the rule correctly?

    The rule in question is 18.2 Ball Moved at Rest : ____________ (from the USGA Rules 2016)

    Rule 18 - Ball at Rest Moved

    Definitions All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.

    18-1. By Outside Agency

    If a ball at rest is moved by an outside agency, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced.

    Note: It is a question of fact whether a ball has been moved by an outside agency. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that an outside agency has moved the ball. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must play the ball as it lies or, if the ball is not found, proceed under Rule 27-1.

    (Player's ball at rest moved by another ball - see Rule 18-5)

    18-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment

    Except as permitted by the Rules, when a player's ball is in play, if

    (i) the player, his partner or either of their caddies:

    • lifts or moves the ball, • touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing the ball), or • causes the ball to move, or

    (ii) the equipment of the player or his partner causes the ball to move, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.

    If the ball is moved, it must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made. . . . ______

    So given the above rule and given the brief explanation on the joint USGA/R&A YouTube video on the changes to the 2016 Rules of Golf, it seems to me that Dustin Johnson was unfairly penalized 1-stroke.

    From the TV angles that I saw, DJ walked up to his ball and was in the process of addressing the ball, BUT he neither ground his putter nor touched the ball. Further, he did not jump on the ground near the ball. Therefore, it can only REASONABLY be concluded that he DID NOT CAUSE his ball to move and that the ball "moved of its own accord".

    To suggest otherwise as per the USGA, goes against the entire spirit of the rule change. The purpose of the rule change was to clarify this situation but if this interpretation is allowed to stand, it only confuses the issue more.

    After all, lets keep in mind that this is Oakmont where the greens are reading 14+ on the stimpmeter (USGA's numbers) and move at the slightest vibration, puff of wind, shadow, etc. It is the USGA that has the greens running so fast at the US Open, that this likelihood or probability increases.

    Furthermore, if you apply a logical or legal rationale, how does DJ benefit from the situation? He doesn't -- nor are the other players impaired unfairly in their play. In other words, the penalty is far, far worse than the infraction.

    Anyway fellow TT'ers, that's my take on the situation -- perhaps others agree? Or have a different perspective on it?

  2. Bomber3

    Bomber3
    Lake St Louis, MO

    Military
    There was a similar situation earlier in the day (don't remember who the player was) where the ball moved side-ways ever so slightly as the player was addressing it. He called in an official and it was decided that he did not cause the movement, so he was not penalized a stroke. Seems to me that the USGA needs to be a lot more consistent when making these decisions and enforcing rules. Oh, and don't get me started on the whole "it happened on 5 and he was informed on 12 that he MIGHT be penalized".
  3. Dr. Kovatchian

    Dr. Kovatchian
    Carlsbad

    SPOT ON DINO!!!

    I'm still scratching my head on this one.
    The USGA really botched this ruling...

    Cheers,
    Dr.K

  4. Robert R

    Robert R
    Mahomet, IL

    Whether the rule was applied correctly, I think the bigger issue is if the rules official told him 'he was ok, no need to replace and play away' then that should be the end of it. Right or wrong the on site official's call should be final. You don't see this confusion on tour, only at usga run events.
    From a former IPGA and SEFPGA rules official.
  5. 19hole

    19hole
    Reading, MA

    I believe the most important rule that was overlooked in all this was 34-2.

    34-2. Referee's Decision

    If a referee has been appointed by the Committee, his decision is final.

    Each group had an official with them, DJ asked for the official and a decision was made. This decision, which according to 34-2 is FINAL, was then overturned and a penalty applied. I think the USGA lost some credibility with this....
  6. Speedy

    Speedy
    East Coast, NH

    19hole said:

    I believe the most important rule that was overlooked in all this was 34-2.

    34-2. Referee's Decision

    If a referee has been appointed by the Committee, his decision is final.

    Each group had an official with them, DJ asked for the official and a decision was made. This decision, which according to 34-2 is FINAL, was then overturned and a penalty applied. I think the USGA lost some credibility with this....

    Couldn't agree more.... Enough said...
  7. Ned

    Ned
    Emporia, VA

    19Hole is spot on. This was a total screw up. Not only is the USGA questioning the integrity of some of the best players in the world but also their own officials.
  8. Chris Hatem

    Chris Hatem
    Boston

    19hole said:

    I believe the most important rule that was overlooked in all this was 34-2.

    34-2. Referee's Decision

    If a referee has been appointed by the Committee, his decision is final.

    Each group had an official with them, DJ asked for the official and a decision was made. This decision, which according to 34-2 is FINAL, was then overturned and a penalty applied. I think the USGA lost some credibility with this....

    Great point 19Hole, totally agree. Now a hypothetical question. Do you think the fact that this penalty happened to not affect the overall outcome of the event (payouts, winner) was wrongly factored into the USGAs decision?
  9. Gary D

    Gary D
    Cranston, RI

    Absolutely. If DJ had a 1 stroke lead, I'll bet he wouldn't have been assessed the penalty. The USGA assessed the penalty because they could without affecting the outcome of the event. And by the way, I think the USGA totally blew it.
  10. Bob T

    Bob T
    East Otis, MA

    They were wrong in their decision. Great way to endorse the USGA. To me the officials were just being set in their way, and were being thick headed about the issue and not giving any slack.
  11. 19hole

    19hole
    Reading, MA

    Chris, I really hope it didn't. That would just blacken the other eye....
  12. Tom B

    Tom B
    Northborough, MA

    You guys nailed it with 34-2. I don't know whether those "other" guys were new to their positions BUT really? They blew it. BUT, I will now cut them some slack and accept their partial apology to the golfing world that the USGA sent out today to all members, apologizing partially, not for the decision but for the way they went about it.
  13. DHall

    DHall
    Arizona

    I agree with those that mention the "official" telling him to play it as it lies. If they are going to use a football mentality and go to instant replay, then where is the integrity of the game? Last I checked, this is a game of gentlemen and gentlewomen.

    Officials are there for a reason. How do they think they'll be looked at now? They will have no credibility at all.

    Shameful.

    I may not be a physics professor, but how does a ball move when the putter is in the air behind the ball? If grounding the putter during the practice stroke caused the movement, why didn't roll to the side? I have no idea what the USGA was looking at.
  14. Dave N

    Dave N
    Dade City, FL

    This was muffed up by telling him he might be penalized at the end of the round holding it over his head over the course of play. And then they did assess the penalty even after it was clear he never grounded the putter. This was not impressive.
  15. etakmit

    etakmit
    Rochester, NY

    Oh my this was a major failure on the USGA's part. Definite black eye.

    And no matter what based on their recent statements, they can't accept that they were in the wrong.
  16. Dino J

    Dino J
    Burnaby, BC

    Hi guys,

    Great discussion on the topic! I think the point about the referee's decision is a vital one that has escaped much of the debate or discussion to date.

    I think some of your points are "bang on" -- after all, golf is all about the "noble sportsman" ... ie: the golfer playing with integrity, etc. and when the USGA reviews a decision afterwards, it does undermine the "integrity" of the player - especially as it pertains to the player's intentions & actions.

    It also undermines the role of the referee as has been well noted here by others.

    Another aspect that has come to mind is the one in which the USGA relies on video replay. In all other sports in which video replay is built in -- whether it is the NFL, NHL, or even FIFA, the key difference is that the playing field is "known" and confined with cameras at key points, etc. whether it be the endzone or the goal net in soccer or hockey.

    In golf, the camera cannot be everywhere and as such the angles are limited. Therefore, from the very outset, it is patently unfair to the players as the cameras cannot be everywhere 100 % of the time nor capture every conceivable angle. A gridiron is a fraction of the size of a championship golf course, a hockey arena or soccer pitch just as small compared to the golf course.

    I think that the rule needs to be clarified to that similar to baseball ... when a player marks and lifts his ball on the green in accordance with the standard rules, the ball cannot be put into "play" or be "live" until such time as the player makes his next putt, whether intentional or not.

    This is the same as the ball on the tee. The ball on the tee is not in play until the player actually strikes the ball and puts it into play ... unless the player "whiffs" when INTENTIONALLY trying to strike the ball! I think this would go a long way towards eliminating the situation that arose on Sunday. Just a thought!
  17. Hotsauce

    Hotsauce
    Georgetown MA

    The USGA has it's head in the sand. Stupid distractions in it's Major Championship like this, pointless rules like not being allowed to post solo rounds, and half hearted initiatives are not going to grow the game. Step it up USGA!
  18. Edward K

    Edward K
    Wesley Chapel, FL

    Military
    Not a good little stretch for the USGA. They lost about 50-60 members from my club alone after the posting scores change. Chamber's Bay is still looming over Mike Davis, FOX coverage still taking hits, and now this....
  19. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    After not trusting the official on site, after requiring no lone score postings, after getting a boat load of money and not making posting handicap scores easier and/or less expensive, the USGA needs to decide if they are trying to grow the game or protect rich old guys wishes to only let "true gentlemen" in the game. I'd post something to the USGA, but in defending the honor of the USGA Open, they abused Chambers Bay beyond recognition. If anyone cancels their USGA membership, please let them know they are out of touch with today's players.

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