In a bizarre scenario reigning US Open champ Justin Rose found himself reinstated to joint third place heading into the final round of the Players Championship at Ponte Vedra, Florida.
Rose had been assessed a two-shot penalty when later TV footage revealed his ball had moved at address down at the back of last green late on the third day of the $US 10m event on the TPC Sawgrass course.
Rose, with his wife sitting on his lap, was led off in a buggy to the TV compound where ‘sophisticated technology’ established his ball had moved.
It meant Rose having to add two shots to his scorecard and instead of a 71 had to sign for a round of 73 and five under par tally that sent the Englishman back into a share of 14th place and seven shots adrift of the leading duo of Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth.
Rose remarked at the time: “That was a bitter pill to swallow at the end of a battling day.
Justin Rose in action during the final round after having a two-stroke third round penalty turned around. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
“In some ways, it is my own fault for trying to be my own rules official.
“But then under 50 times magnification in the TV truck maybe the ball move a quarter of a dimple toward the toe of my club.
“So it move and I got assessed a stroke penalty for playing the ball and an extra stroke for not moving it back.”
However at the intervention early Sunday morning by PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem a rules committee meeting was convened where it was determined the without the use of sophisticated technology, it was not possible to determine by the naked eye Rose’s ball had left its original position.
“The player’s determination that the ball had not moved was deemed to be conclusive and the penalty does not apply in this situation,” said a statement issued by the PGA Tour.
“So having reached this decision, the Committee immediately notified Rose and rescinded the two-stroke penalty.
In fact, Rose was advised around an hour before he was due to tee off at 12.35pm local time.
It meant Rose teed off at nine under par and now only five shots off the lead.
“I was good with the way everything played out, and I want to play by the rules,” said Rose ahead of his final round.
“But I was reading an article in the evening and the rule states — and I’m paraphrasing — but if a player can’t discern whether the ball moved or not, it’s deemed not to have moved. I sort of scratched my head and said that’s exactly what happened to me and yet I was docked two.
“But obviously all the governing bodies — the USGA, R&A and PGA TOUR — all got together overnight to talk about it.”
Three years ago Ireland’s Padraig Harrington was later disqualified when ‘slow-mo’ TV footage had shown he had inadvertently knocked his ball forward at address during the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The incident came to light overnight and with Harrington assessed a two-stroke penalty but as he had handed his scorecard in he was deemed to have signed for an incorrect score.
The ‘Guilty by TV’ ruling led to such an outcry golf’s ruling bodies brought in a new rule, now affectionately referred to as ‘Harrington’s Rule’ to protect players more in such situations given Harrington had handed in his scorecard that led to the disqualification.
As such, the PGA Tour’s ruling will probably lead to the rule being known forever as ‘Rose’s Rule’ as Decision 18-4 of the Rules of Golf had only been implemented in January of 2014.
However there had been no cause before this week for it to be utilized.
It was only the PGA Tour Rules Committee electing to reopen the incident and focus on how much the use of sophisticated technology played a part in making the original ruling.
