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PGA officials at the PGA Championship use video replay to determine that one of the three players tied atop the leaderboard after regulation had grounded his club in what turned out to be a bunker (although the player was unaware of it at the time, since it had been all trampled to hell by the gallery). Which resulted in a 2-stroke penalty, eliminating him from the playoff.

Never understood the point of that rule in general. And it certainly didn't make sense in that situation, considering no one was even 100% sure that it was actually a bunker.


Also, I find it odd that GOLF is using video replay. (yet world cup soccer refuses to do so)

Disclaimer: I'm not a golfer, but here's my take.

Dustin Johnson was hitting out of a bunker that was so badly trampled by crowds that it no longer resembled a bunker. He didn't think he was in a bunker. The grounding rule applies to bunkers so players don't sculpt the sand away from around a ball that is sunk into the sand. Since Johnson thought it wasn't a bunker, he didn't think twice about resting the heel of his club on the ground during practice swings. In fact he did it twice prior to that shot. According to the announcers, he should have been more cautious. One of the announcers said that any time he's in a spot with any sand showing (and there was sand in the area) he NEVER grounds the club. Sounds like Johnson just had a brain fart. It's a shame. It's not like he was going to be a sure winner though anyway, since he choked on the potential winning putt (grounding infraction not being known yet).

Could you imagine if he had sank that putt and then got the infraction? Wow.

What a screwjob.

93henfan wrote:Disclaimer: I'm not a golfer, but here's my take.

Dustin Johnson was hitting out of a bunker that was so badly trampled by crowds that it no longer resembled a bunker. He didn't think he was in a bunker. The grounding rule applies to bunkers so players don't sculpt the sand away from around a ball that is sunk into the sand. Since Johnson thought it wasn't a bunker, he didn't think twice about resting the heel of his club on the ground during practice swings. In fact he did it twice prior to that shot. According to the announcers, he should have been more cautious. One of the announcers said that any time he's in a spot with any sand showing (and there was sand in the area) he NEVER grounds the club. Sounds like Johnson just had a brain fart. It's a shame. It's not like he was going to be a sure winner though anyway, since he choked on the potential winning putt (grounding infraction not being known yet).

Could you imagine if he had sank that putt and then got the infraction? Wow.

I seem to remember the announcers saying that there is alot of sandy soil around that course. not just in the bunkers.

but the point about sculpting the sand away from the ball to improve a lie does make sense as for why that rule exists.
even though that obviously wasn't the case in this instance.

JayJ79 wrote: but the point about sculpting the sand away from the ball to improve a lie does make sense as for why that rule exists.

OK, then why does the rule exist, oh wise one?

93henfan wrote:

JayJ79 wrote: but the point about sculpting the sand away from the ball to improve a lie does make sense as for why that rule exists.

OK, then why does the rule exist, oh wise one?

I was agreeing with your explaination for the rule.

JayJ79 wrote:

93henfan wrote:
OK, then why does the rule exist, oh wise one?

I was agreeing with your explaination for the rule.

Pardon my dumb ass. I thought you said "doesn't make sense". My apologies.

The rule itself is fine. What was poor was the PGA ruling beforehand that all 1000 or so bunkers, even if they were just strips of sand, and with many being outside of the ropes, would be treated as if they were bunkers. He gained zero advantage by resting his club where he did, especially since that sliver of sand had been so trampled over by 5 days of spectators. Golf is cool in that it really does respect its rules (players don't bitch and moan after the fact) but it's also silly in its crazy adherence to some rules that make little or no sense, like in this application.

A friend of mine talked to DJ last night since they were on the CCU golf team together. DJ is disappointed but moving on. If anyone can overcome this, it's DJ. He is as mellow and laid-back a guy as you will find.

The ruling is complete bs and noone knew it was a bunker.

bodoyle wrote:A friend of mine talked to DJ last night since they were on the CCU golf team together. DJ is disappointed but moving on. If anyone can overcome this, it's DJ. He is as mellow and laid-back a guy as you will find.

The ruling is complete bs and noone knew it was a bunker.

Shouldn't he have asked the rules official about it if there was any doubt whatsoever? I mean, it was the final hole of a major championship...

bodoyle wrote:The ruling is complete bs and noone knew it was a bunker.

The rule may have been bs, but the ruling was correct.

The somewhat ironic part was that according to the course owner the rule was posted as such to "avoid any confusion".

Unfortunately, this was the right call. Golf has some tough rules with draconian consequences, but the players are responsible for knowing the rules. Even the rules that suck.

I may have a problem with the use of replay here though. I am a big pro-replay guy, but replay should apply equally to all contestants at all times during the tourney. Just because Johnson was the leader and it was the last hole doesn't mean he should be scrutinized any more that any other golfer. How do we know that the two golfers involved in the play-off didn't make the same mistake on the first day of the tourney?

If every shot, by every player, was reviewed via replay throughout the tourney I have no complaint. But if Johnson was evaluated differently becasue he weas the leader I think that was wrong.

Technically it's not b/c the crowd is not allowed to stand in a bunker during tournament play.

I am bringing a beach chair to the BMW Championship this year and plopping down in a bunker. See what they say

bodoyle wrote:Technically it's not b/c the crowd is not allowed to stand in a bunker during tournament play.

I am bringing a beach chair to the BMW Championship this year and plopping down in a bunker. See what they say

From ESPN's website:

1. Bunkers: All areas of the course that were designed and built as sand bunkers will be played as bunkers (hazards), whether or not they have been raked. This will mean that many bunkers positioned outside of the ropes, as well as some areas of bunkers inside the ropes, close to the rope line, will likely include numerous footprints, heel prints and tire tracks during the play of the Championship. Such irregularities of surface are a part of the game and no free relief will be available from these conditions.

This is similiar to what was said on CBS last night. This course is loaded with bunkers, many of which are located outside the ropes. Apparently it is okay for spectators to stand in them.

I saw that as well. I know of atleast 2 bunkers at Dubsdread, where the BMW Championship will be this year, that have bunkers outside the ropes and noone is allowed near them.

If someone will make me a cs.com sign I will camp out in the bunker with it to get on tv

bodoyle wrote:I saw that as well. I know of atleast 2 bunkers at Dubsdread, where the BMW Championship will be this year, that have bunkers outside the ropes and noone is allowed near them.

If someone will make me a cs.com sign I will camp out in the bunker with it to get on tv

you should make a sand castle, complete with a devious moat system so that if a players ball lands anywhere in the bunker, it will roll down the moat and end up underneath the castle.

JayJ79 wrote:

bodoyle wrote:I saw that as well. I know of atleast 2 bunkers at Dubsdread, where the BMW Championship will be this year, that have bunkers outside the ropes and noone is allowed near them.

If someone will make me a cs.com sign I will camp out in the bunker with it to get on tv

you should make a sand castle, complete with a devious moat system so that if a players ball lands anywhere in the bunker, it will roll down the moat and end up underneath the castle.

Instead of a castle I recommend a windmill.

leave a steaming pile of "instant weight loss"

see if they play it where it lies after a wayward shot plops into that