Jimmy Walker admits to regularly breaking rule of golf on Twitter

[BlackDiamondPar5]

The real lesson here is don't use Twitter. Public figures inevitably show their true colors by blabbering stupid stuff there.

 

Twitter really needs to just die in a fire.

Hopefully... Just like some careers have died in a Twitter fire.

 

(I'm a proud member of no social media accounts)

[golfer07840]

Walker obviously doesn't have a clue who Mike Clayton is and cant be expexted to its a big world out there but as mentioned Clayton played many majors and golf worldwide for 20 years and been a very successful course designer and renovator in partnership with Geoff Ogilvy in Australia.

 

 

Now for something ironic- Walker played in the world cup in 2016 at Kingston Heath in Melbourne, one of his few visits outside of the USA other than to play The Open and shock horror Clayton had a hand in designing the 19th hole a few other course changes.

 

I have been following the PGA Tour since 1995. I have NEVER heard of this guy, Mike Clayton.

[ray9898]

I can't believe a pro golfer would be that stupid.

[jaymayor]

There will likely be 20 pages on this one. I have no problem with it. The guys are aiming at the hole which is 4.25" wide and rarely hit it. What are the odds they are going to aim at and hit a 1.68" object? There are likely tons of things guys have done over the years which are commonly accepted ("Hey, I've got a ball mark here" or "My balls scuffed. I'm going to replace it." Nobody looks and just nods or says "OK.").

 

Sort of like your boss saying, "It's 9:01. I'm docking you a days pay!!"

 

Players aren't trying to hit the ball, they are still aiming for the flag stick. By leaving the ball, all it does for your opponent is increase the target size from 4.25" to 6", that is what the issue is. It's not left there for players to aim for it, it's there in case the player misses the pin. It's an advantage that you didn't have a shot prior so why give it to your opponent?

 

PS. I honestly don't care that players do it.

[davep043]

I can't believe a pro golfer would be that stupid.

I wonder, is Jimmy really against backstopping? Maybe admitting that some guys do it specifically to help their friends is an effort to shine a light on it, hoping that the exposure will force both officials and players to change the way they operate.

[Bandonjosh]

The real lesson here is don't use Twitter. Public figures inevitably show their true colors by blabbering stupid stuff there.

 

Twitter really needs to just die in a fire.

Hopefully... Just like some careers have died in a Twitter fire.

 

(I'm a proud member of no social media accounts)

 

The real lesson here is don't use Twitter. Public figures inevitably show their true colors by blabbering stupid stuff there.

 

Twitter really needs to just die in a fire.

Hopefully... Just like some careers have died in a Twitter fire.

 

(I'm a proud member of no social media accounts)

[Bandonjosh]

He said, from his social media account...

[davep043]

He said, from his social media account...

Yeah, just because this site aimed at a much smaller market doesn't mean that this isn't a form of social media.

[pheenomz4774]

Didn't read every post from all 6 pages but I feel that the easiest way to get players protecting the field again is to require the players to protect themselves. For the record I'm not as angered by some for the intentionally backstopping as I feel that it just doesn't happen often enough to significantly help another player, though with the featured groupings more and more "friends" are being paired up, increasing this likelihood.

 

But the fastest way to end all this is to simply change the rule. Make it so the ball that is struck by another ball the player doesn't get to return it back to it's original spot. The player now has to protect him/herself, thus also protecting the field. If it happens from the fairway, and your gets hit into a hazard from 175 yards out, thems the breaks. There are plenty of rules that completely screw over the player, why not add one more to help protect the field.

[sui generis]

Didn't read every post from all 6 pages but I feel that the easiest way to get players protecting the field again is to require the players to protect themselves. For the record I'm not as angered by some for the intentionally backstopping as I feel that it just doesn't happen often enough to significantly help another player, though with the featured groupings more and more "friends" are being paired up, increasing this likelihood.

 

But the fastest way to end all this is to simply change the rule. Make it so the ball that is struck by another ball the player doesn't get to return it back to it's original spot. The player now has to protect him/herself, thus also protecting the field. If it happens from the fairway, and your gets hit into a hazard from 175 yards out, thems the breaks. There are plenty of rules that completely screw over the player, why not add one more to help protect the field.

 

Sledge hammer to crack a nut? You (and the rest of golf) would not like your proposal for one second!

[Birdie Mac]

I haven't yet heard a legitimate reason for not marking a ball. Questions for those working so hard to rationalize or justify backstopping:

1) Why put yourself into a position of having to defend yourself if a competitor challenges where you chose to replace your ball?

2) If backstopping is ok, why do the rules not allow use of the flagstick while putting?

[Cinnamon Kid]

The new rules do allow use of the flagstick while putting.

[davep043]

2) If backstopping is ok, why do the rules not allow use of the flagstick while putting?

The new rules do allow use of the flagstick while putting.

Apples and oranges in the question. For a ball played from the putting green, its a penalty to hit either another ball on the green (in stroke play) or the flagstick. Backstopping is about a ball played from off the green.

 

And yes, in 2019 there won't be a penalty for hitting the flagstick with a putted ball, while the rule concerning backstopping (15.3) is relatively unchanged from the current rule.

[BNGL]

Walker obviously doesn't have a clue who Mike Clayton is and cant be expexted to its a big world out there but as mentioned Clayton played many majors and golf worldwide for 20 years and been a very successful course designer and renovator in partnership with Geoff Ogilvy in Australia.

 

 

Now for something ironic- Walker played in the world cup in 2016 at Kingston Heath in Melbourne, one of his few visits outside of the USA other than to play The Open and shock horror Clayton had a hand in designing the 19th hole a few other course changes.

 

I have been following the PGA Tour since 1995. I have NEVER heard of this guy, Mike Clayton.

 

You mean to tell me that you have never heard of the 1994 Schweppes Collum Classic?!? Or the 1984 Maekyoung Open? He has a few wins, in Australia and one Euro win. Still pretty good, but I’m with you I had no idea who he was/is and doubt many pga tour players have a clue either.

 

One didn’t know who Billy Casper was, when he died in 2015 one pga tour players asked me who he was (I think he’s won three times, maybe four). Absolutely unbelievable

[bluefishercat]

Bring back the Stymie

[Potatohead]

Did anybody post these yet?

 

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/10/golf-rules-tony-finau-justin-thomas-usga-video-golf-channel

 

Balls on the green should be marked when other people are chipping - Period.

[marmooskapaul]

If you can get your chip shot executed before player can mark his ball....and you benefit from it...meh..rub of the green.

[BiggErn]

Maybe change the rule that the ball at rest doesn’t get to be replaced back to its original spot.

[davep043]

If you can get your chip shot executed before player can mark his ball....and you benefit from it...meh..rub of the green.

Its not the guy who plays that I have a problem with, its the guy who stands by and leaves his ball in a position to help his "friend." And all that guy has to do is to say "Wait, I'll mark", and the player HAS to wait, or be penalized. Its not rub of the green, its intentionally leaving the ball in place to help someone.

[Twism86]

My main question is where is the line to always mark balls on the green and where not to? Its not a solid line but a blur.

 

Both players in greenside bunkers or chipping from within 10-20' - Definitely mark

 

Approach shot from 150yrds out? Well if one guy is close a back stopping situation could arise but no one is going to mark when both players are out that far..... There is no clear line.

[davep043]

My main question is where is the line to always mark balls on the green and where not to? Its not a solid line but a blur.

 

Both players in greenside bunkers or chipping from within 10-20' - Definitely mark

 

Approach shot from 150yrds out? Well if one guy is close a back stopping situation could arise but no one is going to mark when both players are out that far..... There is no clear line.

I agree, there's not a clear line, but I think most players have a pretty good idea when their ball could help their fellow-competitor. To me, the clearest way to define it is in match play terms. Would I mark my ball to avoid giving my opponent a backstop? If so, I really should mark it to avoid helping my fellow-competitor. Another way to look at it, would the player want the ball marked if it was an identical distance in front of the hole, and could stop his shot from getting close? Many of the examples we see are really clear, a ball a foot to one side of the hole, or two feet past it, and the player standing around waiting while the other guy hits instead of marking.

[Ferguson]

Did anybody post these yet?

 

https://ftw.usatoday...eo-golf-channel

 

Balls on the green should be marked when other people are chipping - Period.

 

 

Agreed. 100%

[BiggErn]

Did anybody post these yet?

 

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/10/golf-rules-tony-finau-justin-thomas-usga-video-golf-channel

 

Balls on the green should be marked when other people are chipping - Period.

 

 

Do they paint a line around every green to dictate the “must mark” zone?

[davep043]

Did anybody post these yet?

 

https://ftw.usatoday...eo-golf-channel

 

Balls on the green should be marked when other people are chipping - Period.

Agreed. 100%

I disagree. I see no need to wait for even a half-second to mark a ball that's 20 feet wide of the intended line of play for the guy chipping.

Clearly Finau's fellow-competitor should have marked his ball. He essentially gave Finau a complete stroke, and each shot can amount to thousands of dollars, maybe tens of thousands or even more. That means he COST someone else that same money. But not every ball on the green needs to be marked.

[tyorke1]

just another sign that we are losing with this game, Ball is marked to protect the field and integrity of the game. If it's too far to get to in a timely fashion then thats acceptable but if your green side and you leave it your potentially assisting that player . Mark it , I have played with guys that would try and chip fast to use it ,just another form of soft cheating. Lets keep some of the integrity in this game.

[Potatohead]

My main question is where is the line to always mark balls on the green and where not to? Its not a solid line but a blur.

 

Both players in greenside bunkers or chipping from within 10-20' - Definitely mark

 

Approach shot from 150yrds out? Well if one guy is close a back stopping situation could arise but no one is going to mark when both players are out that far..... There is no clear line.

I agree, there's not a clear line, but I think most players have a pretty good idea when their ball could help their fellow-competitor. To me, the clearest way to define it is in match play terms. Would I mark my ball to avoid giving my opponent a backstop? If so, I really should mark it to avoid helping my fellow-competitor. Another way to look at it, would the player want the ball marked if it was an identical distance in front of the hole, and could stop his shot from getting close? Many of the examples we see are really clear, a ball a foot to one side of the hole, or two feet past it, and the player standing around waiting while the other guy hits instead of marking.

 

And it happens constantly. If two guys are chipping the second guy almost certainly has an advantage just about every time. Think about how often this happens at times or with groups when the cameras aren't rolling. People take things too literally, obviously you don't need to mark EVERY ball, but you should be trying to protect the rest of the field as well as yourself.

[lowheel]

The real lesson here is don't use Twitter. Public figures inevitably show their true colors by blabbering stupid stuff there.

 

Twitter really needs to just die in a fire.

Hopefully... Just like some careers have died in a Twitter fire.

 

(I'm a proud member of no social media accounts)

 

Amen

[Finbarr Saunders]

But it IS a rules violation. The only reason it isn’t enforced is because the players rarely say anything out loud to each other, and when they do, there is no rules official around to hear it, or if they do hear it they are too scared and gutless to do anything about it.

 

I the other player Says, “ hey tony, would you like me to leave my ball there or mark it?” And tony answers , “why yes fine sir, please leave your ball there so I might hit it if I come out of this crappy lie in the bunker too fast.”

 

THAT IS A RULES VIOLATION WHICH REQUIRES DISQUALIFICATION OF BOTH PLAYERS. It is collusion to aid tony in his shot and guess what....in this case it actually almost surely saved him a stroke. Is that fair to the rest of the field trying to beat Tony?? Of course not.

 

Meh, it doesn't matter in the end. No reason to revise the records books. Friggin Jack Nicklaus openly admits that he gambled on golf as an amateur, won amateur events after he gambled and was no longer an amatuer, and people just think it's a cool story. Nobody wants to strip his 1961 US Am even though he was technically ineligible to compete. Why? Because it doesn't really matter in the end.

 

The Rules of Amateur Status do not apply to betting or gambling by amateur golfer

on the results of a competition limited to or specifically organised for professional golfers.

[stu_man]

Did anybody post these yet?

 

https://ftw.usatoday...eo-golf-channel

 

Balls on the green should be marked when other people are chipping - Period.

 

What about pitching? How about 40 yards off? 100? Where does it stop? 185? Doesn't really protect the field that much unless every ball is marked on the green on all approaches.

[raynorfan1]

Did anybody post these yet?

 

https://ftw.usatoday...eo-golf-channel

 

Balls on the green should be marked when other people are chipping - Period.

 

What about pitching? How about 40 yards off? 100? Where does it stop? 185? Doesn't really protect the field that much unless every ball is marked on the green on all approaches.

 

This is obviously why it’s hard to legislate.

 

I realize you can’t write the rule this way, but I would say anything not “in regulation” should have everything marked on the green.