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The latest in our series of situations encountered by everyday golfers (and the pros), and what the correct procedures are
There was drama at the recent Open Championship at Royal Birkdale when Bryson DeChambeau was penalised two shots in the second round for inadvertently improving his lie. He therefore was marked from a 66 to a 68, and dropped from 7-under to 5-under and out of the final group for the third round.
Posting on social media, the 32-year-old wrote: 'Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don't agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let's get it.'
The saga will rank among the most dramatic in the 154 editions of the Open, with DeChambeau notified after his round that a breach had been flagged on the television footage. He quickly demanded to be taken by buggy back to the spot of the incident, where he erupted at two rules officials.
Footage of the original incident showed DeChambeau wading through the long grass before planting his right foot directly behind his ball – an act that flattened the fescue and allowed an easier backswing.
THE INCIDENT
Bryson DeChambeau was adjudged to have inadvertently improved his lie when he stood in thick grass at the par-four 5th, having hit a wayward tee shot. DeChambeau pleaded his innocence, only to be penalised under Rule 8.1 of the rules of golf and his bogey on that hole became a triple-bogey seven. R&A Referee Grant Moir said: 'Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended backswing on the 5th hole when he was playing his second shot.
Rule 8.1 restricts what a player may do to improve any of the protected conditions affecting the stroke, and this includes the area of the player's intended swing. So an improvement means to alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke so that the player gains a potential advantage for the stroke. I'll stress that this applies even when the action is accidental, as it was in Bryson's case.'
THE RULE (Rule 8)
This covers a central principle of the game: 'play the course as you find it'. When the player's ball comes to rest, they normally have to accept the conditions affecting the stroke and not improve them before playing the ball. However, a player may take certain reasonable actions even if they improve those conditions, and there are limited circumstances where conditions may be restored without penalty after they have been improved or worsened.
De Chambeau was penalised under Rule 8.1 (player's actions that improve conditions affecting the stroke).
WIN!
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Question:
A player's ball lies on the bank in a penalty area. As the ball is not in any water, she decides to play the ball. Prior to making the stroke, she grounds her club in making a practice swing and removes some leaves lying close to her ball.
What is the ruling?
a) The player gets one penalty stroke
b) The player gets two penalty strokes
c) There is no penalty
Closing date:
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Question:
Before playing a shot from the fairway, a player decides to use a different club and returns to their bag. A gust of wind then causes the player's ball to roll down a slope several feet from its original position.
What is the ruling?
a) The player gets one stroke penalty and must replace the ball.
b) There is no penalty and the ball must be played from its new position.
c) There is no penalty and the player must replace the ball.
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EJ Langner | Sunshine Tou | Richard Heathcote | GETTY
