Linda, first, let me thank you for all your help in the
past.
I was hoping you are aware of the recent penalty assessed to
Tiger Woods when he lifted an embedded ball. If I heard
correctly, a local rule allowed that embedded balls could be lifted
through the green but that the rule did not apply to sandy areas or surfaces.
If you saw or read of the ruling, can you please explain.
Thanks again for all your guidance
Lou from Ontario
Dear Lou,
I did not see the incident, but I can certainly help you
with the Rule.
If you look in the back of your rulebook under Appendix I,
Part B, #4, you can read the recommended wording for the Local Rule that allows
players relief for a ball embedded in its own pitch mark through the green.*
(Rule 25-2 only provides relief for a ball embedded in closely mown areas through the green.)
One of the exceptions to the Local Rule is that there is no
relief under this Rule for a ball embedded
in sand that is not in a closely mown area. This should explain Tiger’s
mishap.
*For those of you who may not be familiar with the term
“through the green,” it refers to the whole golf course except the teeing ground
and putting green of the hole being played, plus all hazards.
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
