I agree with 3TL about the caddie should have knowing about the rules.

 

Bottom line is this. If he ir his caddie had bothered to familiarize themselves with the local course rules that were supplied, we wouldnt be talking about this. And number two, just hit the fairway off the tee box. Hit a decent drive and we arent talking about this

I agree with 3TL about the caddie should have knowing about the rules.

 

Bottom line is this. If he ir his caddie had bothered to familiarize themselves with the local course rules that were supplied, we wouldnt be talking about this. And number two, just hit the fairway off the tee box. Hit a decent drive and we arent talking about this

 

Easier said than done hitting the fairway. After his huge putt on 17 I thought the break killed him as he had to wait for the guys in front of him to hit their second shots.

I think at next year's PGA at Atlanta CC I am going to attend and walk in every bunker on the golf course. I'm not mad about the call that was made, I'm mad at the PGA of America for allowing the gallery to walk basically anywhere they wanted.

According to the official a rules list is posted before every tournament to identify any nuances of the course being played. He said the number 1 item on this weeks list was the staus of the bunkers. He said the communication to the golfers was that any time a ball was sitting on any sand, anywhere on the course it was to be played as a bunker. Johnson even stated that perhaps he should have looked at the rules list a little more closely. The correct ruling was made.

 

I agree with that position. My only question is if it was so clear why didn't his playing partner or any announcers know of it until after it was called?

Nope

Doesn't matter. The rule concerning waste bunkers has changed. You cannot ground your club in them anymore.

 

Where did you see this new rule? Here is the latest stated rule that I have seen from the USGA on waste bunkers.

 

USGA Explanation On Status Of "Waste Bunkers"

 

 

The Rules of Golf do not define such areas. By Definition, a bunker is a prepared area of ground from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like.

 

On the other hand, a natural sandy area is not a hazard, and a player whose ball lies in such an area may ground his club lightly in, or remove loose impediments from, the area as the area is through the green.

 

It is a fact that the removal of loose impediments (in accordance with Rule 23-1) may incidentally cause the removal of a small amount of sand or similar material. However, if the player removes more sand or like material than would incidentally occur in the removal of such loose impediments and this action improves the lie of the ball, then a breach of Rule 13-2 occurs.

 

In the case of this weekend's tournament, rules had been defined designating all sandy areas as bunkers on this particular course.

Where did you see this new rule? Here is the latest stated rule that I have seen from the USGA on waste bunkers.

 

USGA Explanation On Status Of "Waste Bunkers"

 

 

The Rules of Golf do not define such areas. By Definition, a bunker is a prepared area of ground from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like.

 

On the other hand, a natural sandy area is not a hazard, and a player whose ball lies in such an area may ground his club lightly in, or remove loose impediments from, the area as the area is through the green. The PGA Tour Rules Committee identified a number of these areas around the Harbour Town Golf Links, referred to them as "waste areas" on their Local Rules sheet and treated them as areas through the green for the competition.

 

It is a fact that the removal of loose impediments (in accordance with Rule 23-1) may incidentally cause the removal of a small amount of sand or similar material. However, if the player removes more sand or like material than would incidentally occur in the removal of such loose impediments and this action improves the lie of the ball, then a breach of Rule 13-2 occurs.

 

Just going by what was broadcasted. It was stated by one of the announcers that the rule had been changed. I'm not sure if this is across the board with the PGA, or just course specific to Whistling Straights. Point is, it was addressed before the tournament started and Johnson was clearly unaware of it. While watching it unfold live, I never even thought of his position as being in a bunker. However he was on sand, and the rules sheet had verbage addressing that particular situation.

Where did you see this new rule? Here is the latest stated rule that I have seen from the USGA on waste bunkers.

 

USGA Explanation On Status Of "Waste Bunkers"

 

 

The Rules of Golf do not define such areas. By Definition, a bunker is a prepared area of ground from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like.

 

On the other hand, a natural sandy area is not a hazard, and a player whose ball lies in such an area may ground his club lightly in, or remove loose impediments from, the area as the area is through the green.

 

It is a fact that the removal of loose impediments (in accordance with Rule 23-1) may incidentally cause the removal of a small amount of sand or similar material. However, if the player removes more sand or like material than would incidentally occur in the removal of such loose impediments and this action improves the lie of the ball, then a breach of Rule 13-2 occurs.

 

In the case of this weekend's tournament, rules had been defined designating all sandy areas as bunkers on this particular course.

 

Just going by what was broadcasted. It was stated by one of the announcers that the rule had been changed. I'm not sure if this is across the board with the PGA, or just course specific to Whistling Straights. Point is, it was addressed before the tournament started and Johnson was clearly unaware of it. While watching it unfold live, I never even thought of his position as being in a bunker. However he was on sand, and the rules sheet had verbage addressing that particular situation.

Like I was trying to say earlier, after the 2004 PGA was at Whistling Straights they changed the ruling on all bunkers for this course. All bunkers were to be played as regular bunkers, they did away with waster bunkers for this course. Had to do with something that happened to Stuart Appleby that cost him some strokes in 2004.

 

That said, this ruling was garbage, I don't care what they posted or gave the players. Not Jim Nance, Nick Faldo, the caddie, Dustin, David Feherty, no one recognized that as a bunker. If that was in fact a bunker I truly believe the offical that was walking with them should have pointed that out when he saw the lie. If they are going allow the gallery all over these "bunkers" they need to at least have them marked as such or have the offical with each group identify them as bunkers if a ball goes in one.

Like I was trying to say earlier, after the 2004 PGA was at Whistling Straights they changed the ruling on all bunkers for this course. All bunkers were to be played as regular bunkers, they did away with waster bunkers for this course. Had to do with something that happened to Stuart Appleby that cost him some strokes in 2004.

 

That said, this ruling was garbage, I don't care what they posted or gave the players. Not Jim Nance, Nick Faldo, the caddie, Dustin, David Feherty, no one recognized that as a bunker. If that was in fact a bunker I truly believe the offical that was walking with them should have pointed that out when he saw the lie. If they are going allow the gallery all over these "bunkers" they need to at least have them marked as such or have the offical with each group identify them as bunkers if a ball goes in one.

 

I agree with you that the rules official should have pointed it out. I did however see a replay today and Nance said he is actually in one of the over 1000 bunkers on the course. I didn't think it was ever mentioned but it was said early.

Like I was trying to say earlier, after the 2004 PGA was at Whistling Straights they changed the ruling on all bunkers for this course. All bunkers were to be played as regular bunkers, they did away with waster bunkers for this course. Had to do with something that happened to Stuart Appleby that cost him some strokes in 2004.

 

That said, this ruling was garbage, I don't care what they posted or gave the players. Not Jim Nance, Nick Faldo, the caddie, Dustin, David Feherty, no one recognized that as a bunker. If that was in fact a bunker I truly believe the offical that was walking with them should have pointed that out when he saw the lie. If they are going allow the gallery all over these "bunkers" they need to at least have them marked as such or have the offical with each group identify them as bunkers if a ball goes in one.

I wonder if he could have requested that the bunker be raked? It was a mess. Kudos to Johnson though, he took it very professionally.

Here is what respected PGA Tour vet Stuart Appleby says about the situation:

Every bunker is listed in the rules last week to be played as normal bunkers and the normal rules apply (aka don't ground club)

I'm very ticked and angered that this is way the 2010 PGA came to an end.

It was listed in many parts of the caddy and player areas of this unique rule for the week.

Dustin and caddy are ultimately responsible for their actions....but WTH

I think that they need to make significant changes to the course that has hundreds of pointless bunkers that patrons have to walk through to view players.

The PGA says that their a part of the game and to be treated as hazards.

Never seen patrons walking through bunkers in any other professional event (world wide) try that at Augusta.

Then I see them using leaf blowers to fluff up the rough to make the course harder (did they have them 100 years ago, think not)

We go back there in 2015 I hear.

What's the next sad story to unfold in Wisconsin?

Stay tuned in 5 years time...

Just saw an interview with Pete Dye, who designed the course. He mad some comment about how the bunker was "clearly defined". Yeah, maybe when CBS did their flyover from a hundred feet or so when there's absolutely nobody on the course...then, yes, it looks clearly defined. But, what was shown on TV yesterday was anything but.

Hey ja...can an official/marshall not tell them he was in a bunker? Or does he or the caddies have to ask them?

Hey ja...can an official/marshall not tell them he was in a bunker? Or does he or the caddies have to ask them?

 

The official asked if he needed anything. Johnson asked to move some fans:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/golf/news/story?id=5468051

Hey ja...can an official/marshall not tell them he was in a bunker? Or does he or the caddies have to ask them?

 

I believe they said the officials with the group are there to help the players, however, they will only address any issues when asked.