The KJ Choi Ruling ? Hawaii Day 2

[TigerStrong]

What Do You Think ?????

Ok if you did not see it KJ hit his ball into the weeds. They looked for it for about 4 minutes and finally found it. But wait a second he had no marks on the ball. No name, initals, or sharpie marks. I thouht that was the only way to identify your golf ball. Go back to the tee right? Nope!! Well here comes Sluger White to the rescue stating KJ Choi says thats my ball. I know thats my ball. Are you kidding me, it could be a ball hit by KJ in the practice round or it could be Stephen Ames ball hit and lost in a practice round. We will never know for sure thats why they have that rule. So no penalty and he played it from the weeds. No penalty. Mark your ball. First thing they teach you as a junior. Mark your ball with a Sharpie. How can tour players get away with bending the rules in tournaments. Just ask yourself what would happen if you did the same thing in your club tournaments. What does everyone think?

[RNF]

Yeah I saw it.....I was very surprised that KJ had no markings on his ball.

 

I guess he was adamant that it was his ball. Game of honor and all.

 

If you did the same at your club, well I guess you could guarantee people would discuss it behind your back. Maybe even question your integrity....same as we are doing here.

[i_luv_golf_]

I never knew that! Thanks a bunch...now I can give penalties for this in matchplay...anyone have a r and a rule book page for this or is this a usga rule

[wwhitehead]

I thought the ruling was outrageous. How can you look for a ball for 4 minutes, then find it in the weeds, then say you know it's yours?

 

I've always understood that an identifying mark of some sort is required - if not by the rules, by the idea that you never want to put yourself in this position.

[Steve_FLA]

I was astonished that a PGA player does not mark his ball. I think Rocco M. was shocked also by listening to his commentary on the subject. It was weird and does make you wonder a bit if it really was his ball. Lot of money at stake...

 

-Steve

[xxio]

It is not required to mark your ball, as long as you can identify it. Players will usually know the make and number. I don't mark the ones I use. They just look cleaner and Choi, like me probably gets distracted by markings.

 

Before teeing off on number 1 I do tell my playing aprtners the ball maker, model, and number that I use. Noboby in my group uses ZURCs and Tourstage X01s anyhow.

[Rabidpenguin45]

I dont mark my ball, i dont like the lines, dots, squiqely thingys... faces, i've seen it all. I like a clean golf ball, but in tournament play, i may mark it if i HAVE to, but prefer to just tell them ball and number... and normally everybody plays titleists... so i'm in good shape with my platinums... :)

[jmc]

Maybe he's the only tour player that doesn't mark his ball and hence, that is HIS mark.

[samm980]

This is the first I have heard about it but it's baffling that Choi doesn't make or mark or have custom logoed balls from Nike.

[jdhallissey]

That happens more than everybody knows. I played in a couple of mini tours and nationwide tour events. I saw a guy who did this along with bend the rules of dropping a ball from a cart path. It is not illegal but he marked his ball since his stance was on the cart path. He then proceed to drop the ball back on the cart path becuase anywhere he dropped he would be in 7-8 inches of hey. The cart path ran to the fairway behind him. Well after his terrible drive he was now sitting about 20 yards back and a perfect shot into the green and the rules offical allowed it saying the ball was dropped properly and that the ball didn't end up infront of his mark or closer to the hole. I think that is a POS rule but hey I didn't make them.

[pitbull808]

This is the first I have heard about it but it's baffling that Choi doesn't make or mark or have custom logoed balls from Nike.

 

 

I saw the ruling and per one of the commentators..the ball found was white/new compared to others they found. I was also thinking perhaps KJ might have been using a Proto and there was no reason not to believe it was his ball.