Reeds scrape away

[LICC]

And they should be subject to consequences for cheating. It's why I hope Clemens and Bonds never get into the Hall of Fame.

[Vindog]

Right but most people are claiming, at least in this thread, that a player should be able to feel these things. But Tiger didn't and he's the best ball striker in the biz!!

 

Anyways, the Tour is a clown show at this point, and I'm less and less surprised any any of it. I disagree that he wasn't trying to push the ball, but that's just my opinion.

[third-times-a-charm]

Poulter uses his foot to step behind his balls landing spot and make an indentation behind it before each shot. He also does this on the tee box.

 

Does anyone feel this is or isnt similar?

[LICC]

With a ball on the ground that seems questionable but I'm not sure how that improves anything for a ball on a tee.

[Ferguson]

 

 

Red Asphalt - saw a clip of that in the proctologist's office.

[Vindog]

On the teeing ground this is perfectly legit

[Darth Putter]

Once Patrick gets thrown out of golf, he can still earn a living by shooting video for the New England Patriots.

[CasualLie]

Ya, I am not at the point of loathing just because it is hard for me to get invested too much when the PGA Tour is not. That being said, I probably should walk back anything that borderline looks like I was defending PR. I wasn't defending him, just going with the boring statements like Rory made, giving benefit of the doubt, intent, blah...blah...blah. Mainly because, like Rory, it is not worth the controversy. Bottom line, to me, PR is one of those oblivious idiots who is so narcissistic he operates in a world of alternative reality. Really not surprising in this day, is it? I mean, you really have to be delusional if you think it is ok to go through a pre-shot routine in a waste area that opens a door to controversy when you know cameras are all over you. So for PR, ok I believe you it is not your INTENT, but only because you have convinced yourself of that for years.

But as I said before, it is a PGA Tour issue much more than a Reed issue, and they know it. He will never be suspended for these antics. And don't think for a second JT is ribbing Reed because he is more buddies with Spieth. On the course, by and large, they are all "friends". They are all in this together to be part of the millionaires club. It's all part of the racket. The media may have you believe there are "enemies" and rivalries going on, but not really. There are some natural bonds and there are people who just don't get along much; pretty much like any office at any company. But the culture is clear, you can try to boost your follower stats on Twitter, and other ego stroking methods on social media, but do not upset the apple cart.

The tour and the leaders among the clubhouse are well coached and coach others how to keep it all in line....and even manage the Patrick Reeds, Ian Poulters, Eddie Pepperells, Sabbatinis, Sergios...and many others. The tour can even manage Chamblee...now that's control. And the tour can manage if they feel someone is really cheating (by their definition) in those rare moments when they cannot control the narrative.

So really the question is, are we able to evolve and still be fans of the current tour with all its peripheral baggage magnified by the media/internet/4KTV; or do we want to long for the glory days (which may have never existed in the first place) and perch ourselves on soap boxes?

[Pepperturbo]

Tour players are like the rest of us, they get distracted and have brain fa*ts too. I don't believe he was attempting to cheat, especially since cameras were following him and sure to pick up his actions, as is the case.

[Pepperturbo]

When I step down behind my tee'd ball the purpose is to tap down turf to ensure a clean strike. Tour players do it all the time. In the fairway I step behind the ball to tap down turf for a clean strike. The only concern is to insure the ball does not move.

[Pepperturbo]

I watched the same video as others. Today, portable camera's get moved around the course to follow specific players. When PR is playing good a camera will be on him every step of the way. Are you and others saying he purposely didn't care the camera was watching his every move and when ahead with cheating anyway? I am hard pressed to believe that's the case; blatently cheating knowing a TV camera is getting every move he makes as are millions of people. Doesn't make sense.

[LICC]

@davep043 - you are a trusted source on this- do the rules allow tapping down turf behind a ball? Please see the comment above re Ian Poulter and him also doing it on the tee box.

[jmck]

lol. No wonder what Reed didn't isn't bothering you too much. You've been cheating for years without knowing it.

[KevCarter]

Pepper, you may not do that in the fairway. Please see rule 8.1(a)

[Pepperturbo]

I played over ten years in Inter-Club team competition, regional events, and played with rules officals, even some tour guys that do it. I learned it from others and nobody has ever said anything. Also, like 99% of tour players, I have never sat down to read the rules book cover to cover and commit it to memory. Like others, I have better things to do with my time.

[KevCarter]

You've been around a long time, and I would NEVER question your integrity. I had a good friend that used to do the same thing, nobody called him on it so he didn't learn. I had a discussion with him privately to explain the rule, and he never did it again. The rule you are violating in 8.1a is

Creating or eliminating holes, indentations or uneven surfaces....in my opinion. Hopefully one of the others will help us out if I'm wrong.

Kevin

[LICC]

That seems like a basic one doesn’t it? You can’t improve the ground to improve your strike? It’s the teed up ball that I’m more wondering about.

[isitour]

I'd take 10 Patrick Reeds over Sergio or "El Cheapo" ...

[KevCarter]

Explicitly allowed on the Teeing Ground. 6.2 b.3

[jmck]

Keep digging buddy. You don't need to read the rule book cover to cover to understand this one. It's a fundamental part of the most fundamental rule: play the ball as it lies.

Heck, it's even right there in your post. You see tour pros "do it all the time"......yeah.....on the tee, where it's okay to create your own lie.

Million dollar check to the charity of your choice if you can find me footage a pro doing that in the fairway in competition.

[LICC]

Just read it, thank you.

[Pepperturbo]

Since I wasn't touching where the ball sat I never saw stepping behind the ball as improving my lie. I am quite sure all those that I learned it from feel the same. As for the tee box, watch TV closely you'll see PGA & Euro tour guys doing it too. There are a number of tour players that slam their heal into the ground to create a man-made tee, then step down behind their tee to ensure clean contact.

[Soloman1]

What the hell? You must be joking about this. You cannot improve your lie by stepping on the ground behind the ball, except on the teeing area.

 

This is preposterous. lol

[Pepperturbo]

Nope, I am not perfect but I play the ball as it lies, without touching the ball or it's lie. I am going to make a few calls later this week to guys I know that were on tour and see what their thoughts are. No offsense to you are anyone else but what's said on this DB isn't exactly trustworty, non-bias or ladened in fact but implied belief. Have a good day.

[KevCarter]

 

"I step behind the ball to tap down turf for a clean strike."

 

Consider that statement, that is clearly the issue with the rules in stepping down behind the ball in the fairway.

[jmck]

Ah, so when you're on the tee this is what happens: "When I step down behind my tee'd ball the purpose is to tap down turf to ensure a clean strike." But when you do that in the fairway it doesn't improve your lie? Got it. Go ahead and make your calls and report back.

No offense, but you're dead wrong about this, and I have a very hard time believing you've played any competitive golf at all. I mean this is something I've known was against the rules since I was like five or six years old, same as anyone who's actually played competitively.

[KevCarter]

 

Really? We'll look forward to your findings.

[Pepperturbo]

I've been wrong before. It doesn't hurt my feelings. What's interesting though is you're assuming based on what you know, that a certain scenario couldn't exist for people that actually play amateur golf. All I did was present a scenario for people to spot and jump to conclusions or assumptions and stand in disbelief. LOL

[LICC]

But if you are in long rough and you step on it behind the ball, you are changing the course conditions to improve your strike. I just don't see how that isn't a basic thing for people to know not to do. If I was playing for money and I saw someone doing this, I would be quite annoyed.

[youngwaldo]

Hopefully he can win all his matches and let this be by-gones. I like him in team events like this.

 

Wk