Explain this to me. Viewers calling in possible rules infractions

TheBUNKY · April 4, 2006

Watching the GC and they are airing Tiger's 2005 Majors which covers last years' Masters. He had a caller call in a possible rules infraction and this has happened before, not just to T Dub.

First question: Who can call in?

Second question: If anyone can, what's the number?

I remember this happening to JD in 1991 at Crooked Stick. Are these people just calling CBS or somewhere else?

golfhawaii · April 5, 2006

Watching the GC and they are airing Tiger's 2005 Majors which covers last years' Masters. He had a caller call in a possible rules infraction and this has happened before, not just to T Dub.

First question: Who can call in?

Second question: If anyone can, what's the number?

I remember this happening to JD in 1991 at Crooked Stick. Are these people just calling CBS or somewhere else?

People that think they know everything and make calls to the USGA, thier number is posted on the usga.org, making claims regarding rules infractions during a stipulated round. Most of the claims are incorrect and an angle or view isn't clear, so the claim is thrown out or overlooked, but the usga person answers the question/claim to the individual. I've met the father of the individual whose job it was to answer the questions and he knows the rule book like you wouldn't believe.

willie991 · April 5, 2006

You bring up a phenomonon of the game that has initiated much discussion. Yes, the NFL has its instant replay. An official can change a call, if evidence on the replay camera... irrefutably... shows an error was committed. However, when the game is over... it's over. No other sport that I know of allows disqualification/tourney placements to be determined by the general population far after the completion of a round. Probably the three most famous cases of viewer call in were as follows...

Craig Stadler's ball ended up under a tree. He needed to get on his knees to strike the ball. Due to wet grounds, Stadler spread a towel on the ground to kneel on. This kept his slacks from the mud. Overnight, a viewer called the USGA and suggested Stadler had "improved his stance" through use of the towel. Stadler was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.

Michelle Wie was disqualified this past year after finishing high on a tourney's leaderboard. A sports magazine reporter told a tourney rules official... after MW had signed her scorecard, he felt she had taken an improper drop. A string was used to dertermine that where the reporter throught the ball was dropped was actually inches closer to the hole.

Tiger's ball came to rest behind a large (5' to 6' diameter) boulder. Had the ball come to rest behind a loose impediment, the player could have simply moved the stone. It took a dozen or so from the large gallery to move this boulder. The player deemed it a loose impediment. Calls came in a volume that virtually locked up the USGA's switchboard complaining of a rules violation. The USGA stood by the player's definition of a loose impediment.

There you have three individual cases. One a viewer calls in and gets a player DQ'd. Another, a magazine reporter following a group "tattles" to a rules official resulting in a player DQ'd. And yet a third, where numerous call in and the player's on course call stands.

As the other poster poiinted out.. anyone can call in. Many do. Few are legit. Those that are deemed legit have had an affect on the outcome of a number of tourneys.

Damo75 · April 5, 2006

I remember those instances you've mentioned there. Stadler's was a bit of a joke, but, unfortunately, technically it was correct. MW's seemed ridiculously harsh too. No doubt the ruling was correct, but geez, why the hell didn't the guy tell her at the time so she could have played 2 balls, called an official or something, rather than waiting until so long after the event and hanging her out to dry with no recourse?

Tigers was the biggest joke of all, and IMO he shouldn't have been allowed to do it. I know it's hypothetical, but I wonder if Briny Baird (random name eselected) had done the same thing if the same ruling would have applied, or even if 10 guys from the gallery would have helped him move the rock?

I think they should can the whole 'call-in' option, post a rules official on every hole, and let their decision stand. If there was an official available on every hole, there would be no delays while rulings were being given.

willie991 · April 5, 2006

[quote I think they should can the whole 'call-in' option, post a rules official on every hole, and let their decision stand. If there was an official available on every hole, there would be no delays while rulings were being given.

I totally agree. The "call-in" thing stinks to high heaven... as does the magazine reporter fiasco. The biggest issue has to do with the "level playing field". I know, we used to repeatedly tell our kids "Life just isn't fair!" Yet, why should only the players seen on televison or followed by reporters looking to "make a story" rather than "report a story" be those scrutinized. How many rules violations happen that are not witnessed? (In reality, not many!!) A mistake is a mistake!

Again, I compare to football, basketball, etc. The entire field/court can be viewed by the officials. Golf competition is strung out over acres and acres. It is virtually impossible to view all players. Rules officials ARE positioned, strategically, along the course. Response time to a request for ruling is not the issue. Oft times, a player may interpret a rule incorrectly or not thoroughly think through an action. There is usually no intent... but in the "heat" of a competitive round at that level sometimes the mind can be ones worst enemy. I just would like to see rulings be completely in the hands of the players and the designated rules officials. No input from viewers, reporters... any outside agency... would be allowed.

One last thought... Instant replay in the NFL brings up a question. With the technology available today, is there any way the entire course could be "watched" via closed circuit tv? Before signing a scorecard, a player could look at any scenario... with a rules official... and decide if any penalty needed to be assessed. That could prevent the signing of an incorrect card. Perhaps, it could be taken one step further and 3 rules officials sit where each has the responsibility to constantly view 6 holes on the course. That way any drop, etc. could be witnessed and communication be had with the player before signing an incorrect card.