In a repeat of Dustin Johnson’s disqualification from last year’s U.S. PGA Championship, four players were shown red cards on the first day of the French Open in Versailles.
The four – Ireland’s Damien McGrane, England’s James Ruebotham, South African Jaco Van Zyl and Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg – took incorrect penalty drops after finding water at the par four, 18th on the Le National cousre.
Chief Referee, Andy Fee admits he's bemused four players were disqualified from the French Open. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
All four in playing their second shots found water and by crossing the water to the left of a green stake planted on the edge of the water hazard on the 2018 Ryder Cup host venue.
But in taking a penalty drop, the four incorrectly dropped from a ‘drop zone’ some 15 yards to the right of the green stake thus gaining upwards of a 50 to 60 yard advantage.
Last August, Johnson was slapped with a two-shot penalty while leading at Whistling Straits for grounding his club in a bunker he thought was waste area.
This despite notices placed all about the locker room and with the penalty at the 72nd hole costing the American victory and also missing out on a play-off.
European Tour officials put notices up in the Versailles clubhouse advising of the correct ‘dropping’ procedure but for four, the notice was ignored.
Bizarrely in McGrane’s case the Irishman was not aware of any breach to some 90 minutes later when his caddy overheard other caddies discussing issues with the 18th..
McGrane had just finished his lunch when his caddy handed him the bad news, and with McGrane then looking to locate Tournament Director, David Probyn who escorted him back to the 18th fairway where McGrane’s offence was confirmed.
“It’s stated up on the notice board there was something to do with a green stake but my caddy John read it and tried to make the best out of it,” said McGrane.
“I went back down there to the 18th and the green stake is right beside the yellow stake and you almost wouldn’t notice the difference in the two.
“But what I’ve done today is wrong and I’ve broken the rules, so I’ve no case.”
Tour Chief Referee, Andy McFee revealed the same rule had been in effect last year, and the same green stake was in position also last year.
“That green stake has been lying under the bed of a colleague for the last 12 months, and we had it made especially for that hole,” he said.
“It’s been there in position during the practice rounds so player have walked past thinking well, what’s that there for, and then we have all these notices on their lockers and in the Player’ Lounge, and on the notice board.
“So I am little bemused at what’s happening today.
“My line has always been that players spend hours after hours trying to save one shot on the practice range when five minutes in the rule book can have the same effect.”
And also McFee indicated ‘Harrington’s Rule’ does not apply as the players knowingly breached a rule that was in contrast to Padraig Harrington’s clumsy but unknowing actions earlier this year in Abu Dhabi.
It’s the largest number of players to be disqualified from a European Tour event since six players were disqualified for incorrectly moving white stakes during the first round of 1990 AGF Open at La Grand Motte at Montpellier in France.
