[Lilji]

Not if the rule is a bullshit rule. One that does not give the player any advantage. especially this one where the delay did not effect everyone the same. Some players were not affected by the delay at all. So in fact, letting her warm up, however she wanted, would only be fair. IMO.

That doesn't agree with the sense I got from the PGA Championship controversy. Golfers and golf fans all seemed to agree that "rules are rules" and are not open to interpretation and must be enforced. Even when those rules are dumb. What is fair is for everyone to follow those rules.

[eEwbYjOH]

It's been a while ago, but it was during one of his US open wins. It was late in the round on sunday he hit it left into some wasteland, but not in a hazard. The ball was virtually unplayable. However. there were camera cranes about 250 yards away, which looked like they went up 100 feet in the air. Because he yanked it so far left, they crane, which is about 1-2 feet wide, was slightly in his line to the green. Ernie called it as an man-made unmoveable object and wanted relieve. And got it. Nearest point of relief was about 20 - 30 yard toward the fairway and got to drop on a nice flattened area by the gallery.

This was totally the wrong call, because the cranes were moveable and also there was now way he could have hit it at the green because of the lie. Well, he went on to win and it was directly because of the shit drop he was awarded. he totally took advantage of the rule to better his lie, and that is NOT the intent of the rules. Ever since then I am an ernie hater.

You obviously don't understand the rules. He would have been an idiot not to do that. Anyone in the field smart enough to know would have done that.

[cristmiff]

It's been a while ago, but it was during one of his US open wins. It was late in the round on sunday he hit it left into some wasteland, but not in a hazard. The ball was virtually unplayable. However. there were camera cranes about 250 yards away, which looked like they went up 100 feet in the air. Because he yanked it so far left, they crane, which is about 1-2 feet wide, was slightly in his line to the green. Ernie called it as an man-made unmoveable object and wanted relieve. And got it. Nearest point of relief was about 20 - 30 yard toward the fairway and got to drop on a nice flattened area by the gallery.

This was totally the wrong call, because the cranes were moveable and also there was now way he could have hit it at the green because of the lie. Well, he went on to win and it was directly because of the shit drop he was awarded. he totally took advantage of the rule to better his lie, and that is NOT the intent of the rules. Ever since then I am an ernie hater.

I remember that and I was surprised that he got that ruling, but I don't blame him for asking. The thing was in his line of sight. Maybe it was a local rule for that tournament.

Local rules come into play all the time. Look what the guy who won yesterday did on the 18th hole. He hit his approach deliberately through the green knowing that he would most likely get to place the ball, which he did. It kept him from having to deal with all the trouble near the front and the Sunday pin.

[TornadoPD]

It's been a while ago, but it was during one of his US open wins. It was late in the round on sunday he hit it left into some wasteland, but not in a hazard. The ball was virtually unplayable. However. there were camera cranes about 250 yards away, which looked like they went up 100 feet in the air. Because he yanked it so far left, they crane, which is about 1-2 feet wide, was slightly in his line to the green. Ernie called it as an man-made unmoveable object and wanted relieve. And got it. Nearest point of relief was about 20 - 30 yard toward the fairway and got to drop on a nice flattened area by the gallery.

This was totally the wrong call, because the cranes were moveable and also there was now way he could have hit it at the green because of the lie. Well, he went on to win and it was directly because of the shit drop he was awarded. he totally took advantage of the rule to better his lie, and that is NOT the intent of the rules. Ever since then I am an ernie hater.

So wait a minute. You don't want to apply rules that penalize a player (Inkster) which is obscure and probably not really even fair, but you ALSO don't want a player to be able to take advantage of a rule that aids him. Whether or not it gave him an advantage (which it did) is totally irrelevant. He asked for, and was granted, relief that was deemed legal by the letter of the rules.

I SO CONFOOZED!!!!!!

[Bemapayople]

You obviously don't understand the rules. He would have been an idiot not to do that. Anyone in the field smart enough to know would have done that.

i do understand the rule, and this particular ruling was a bit of a judgement call by the official. Ernie wanted a ruling, the official came over and looked at it. He could have just as easily said no, its not in your way, hit the ball. The other thing is that cranes are not unmoveable. have the crane lowered and move it. It was not near any gallery and could have easily been moved.

[Wrencytet]

So wait a minute. You don't want to apply rules that penalize a player (Inkster) which is obscure and probably not really even fair, but you ALSO don't want a player to be able to take advantage of a rule that aids him. Whether or not it gave him an advantage (which it did) is totally irrelevant. He asked for, and was granted, relief that was deemed legal by the letter of the rules.

I SO CONFOOZED!!!!!!

Seems like he's being pretty consistent, to me. He doesn't like it when the rules are enforced. He'd rather just let the players play.

[WGRocky]

i do understand the rule, and this particular ruling was a bit of a judgement call by the official. Ernie wanted a ruling, the official came over and looked at it. He could have just as easily said no, its not in your way, hit the ball. The other thing is that cranes are not unmoveable. have the crane lowered and move it. It was not near any gallery and could have easily been moved.

Shouldn't your hate be directed at the official, then?

[CibQueersejer]

i do understand the rule, and this particular ruling was a bit of a judgement call by the official. Ernie wanted a ruling, the official came over and looked at it. He could have just as easily said no, its not in your way, hit the ball. The other thing is that cranes are not unmoveable. have the crane lowered and move it. It was not near any gallery and could have easily been moved.

It's not Ernie's fault that they applied the rule in a manner which favored him. Had they told him they'd move the crane, I'm sure he'd have had no issue with playing the ball where it was.

Ernie has never been anything but a class act, and to hate on the guy for asking for and receiving a favorable ruling on this issue just seems silly, IMO.

[Allbrunette]

The fact of the matter is that his BAD SHOT should have cost him the major. If you hit a bad shot into where the monkeys fuck, you should have to pay.

Fuck him, I hate him.

[Galinastva]

The fact of the matter is that his BAD SHOT should have cost him the major. If you hit a bad shot into where the monkeys fuck, you should have to pay.

Fuck him, I hate him.

I hit a drive into 3 foot tall weeds in the club championship last year. Right into a tractor tire track full of water. Taking a casual water drop put me on very nice grass, I dropped and ended up making par, and won first place.

I guess I should give my trophy back.

[BCVB9SOc]

The fact of the matter is that his BAD SHOT should have cost him the major. If you hit a bad shot into where the monkeys fuck, you should have to pay.

Fuck him, I hate him.

I'm sure he's deeply saddened by this.

[VtLe67WR]

The fact of the matter is that his BAD SHOT should have cost him the major. If you hit a bad shot into where the monkeys fuck, you should have to pay.

Fuck him, I hate him.

You're a sad, angry, bitter little man. I feel bad for you Hawk. Let go of the hate.

[12dargernswearf]

I hit a drive into 3 foot tall weeds in the club championship last year. Right into a tractor tire track full of water. Taking a casual water drop put me on very nice grass, I dropped and ended up making par, and won first place.

I guess I should give my trophy back.

You can use the rules of golf to your advantage. We have a par five with OB along the left side. There is road skirting the fenceline marking the OB. Sometimes an errant shot will nestle on the road right by the fence. When this happens you can't swing at it using a normal (right handed) swing, but you don't have to, since you get a free drop from the road.

[JonnLeejsp]

You can use the rules of golf to your advantage. We have a par five with OB along the left side. There is road skirting the fenceline marking the OB. Sometimes an errant shot will nestle on the road right by the fence. When this happens you can't swing at it using a normal (right handed) swing, but you don't have to, since you get a free drop from the road.

I'm curious about that one. You do not get relief from an out of bounds fence unless it says so specifically on the course's score card.

[Ervins Dervish]

I once called women's tennis to say that Monica Seles grunting was making it very hard to masturbate.

[chuecafressds]

I'm curious about that one. You do not get relief from an out of bounds fence unless it says so specifically on the course's score card.

He's taking relief from the road.

[JohnMaltczevitch]

He's taking relief from the road.

Yup, the ball is not actually OB, but is too close to the fence to make a normal righty swing...from a road.

Of course, you could take relief even if you had room to swing as well.

[sStevenRitziI]

I hit a drive into 3 foot tall weeds in the club championship last year. Right into a tractor tire track full of water. Taking a casual water drop put me on very nice grass, I dropped and ended up making par, and won first place.

I guess I should give my trophy back.

You did the correct thing, but not necessarily because of the water, but because of the tire is artificial object that is moveable or immovable obstruction. Probably immovable in this case, you get one club no closer to the hole so that you have complete relief.

[carfAball]

You did the correct thing, but not necessarily because of the water, but because of the tire is artificial object that is moveable or immovable obstruction. Probably immovable in this case, you get one club no closer to the hole so that you have complete relief.

There was no tire, only a track. I got relief from casual water.

[viiagrag]

Have you ever read the golf rulebook? Except for the PGA geeks that write the rule book and the nancy-man who called the infraction after seeing it on TV, nobody can know all the rules. I doubt that any pro knows every single minutia of this rule book. Hence, THERE ARE rules officials on the course, who do in fact invoke penalties when not reported by the player. And, the players themselves frequently call officials for clarifications and rulings because the rule book is so convoluted and full of ambiguous rules.

I guess my initial argument is... Why in the world, if you are fan, (for whatever reason,) watching tournament on TV, not want to see good competition? If I was Julie's opponent, and knew the rule, I would not call it her. Thats bunk, I would hate to win because of some stupid rule. Players get to warm up before playoffs when there is a tie, they should get to warm up after lengthy delays.

I know in my profession, and many other professions, not knowing the rules and/or forgetting a rule isn't a very good excuse.