In one of the most bizarre rules questions for some time World No.1 Jordan Spieth stumped some of professional golf’s leading referees.
Spieth had walked up to European Tour Chief Referee, Andy McFee on the third green during the third round of the WGC – Cadillac Championship to politely ask if under the Rules of Golf he could put his own saliva on the bottom of his putter so that the putter would not slide on the slick greens, and as he had been doing on the similar slick practice putting greens.
McFee has been a rules referee with the European Tour for some 30-years but it was a question that he immediately could not answer.
McFee conferred with other rules officials present at Trump Doral and they also could not quote any official rule.
European Tour Chief Referee, Andy McFee (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www,golffile.ie)
A call was then placed to the USGA and it was while Spieth was walking down the eighth fairway he was advised that under the Rules of Golf he would be penalised if he did that in competition.
“I had been curious all week, and only because my putter is maybe old, but when I get onto greens like this week at Trump Doral it gets all shiny on the bottom and it makes it very difficult for me to set the putter down,” said Spieth after his round of 73 to drop to two under par.
“I had that problem also in Abu Dhabi and didn’t do anything about it, and then I felt it again in the second round here yesterday so much so I struggled because I could get my alignment right.
Jordan Spieth stumps some of the Toiur’s leading referee’s with a question as to whether or not he can apply saliva to the bottom of his putter
“So that’s why I called a rules official in on the third green as I wanted check as I lick my finger and then apply the saliva to the bottom of the putter. Though I had been doing that in practice and I wanted to check with the rules official if I was allowed to do that in practice.
“So I didn’t know whether it was legal or not.
“But then when I mentioned this to the rules official (McFee) he said he didn’t know and this was after I had asked about a dozen people since Abu Dhabi including my coach, commentators and othe professionals but nobody knew the answer.
“The rules official said he knew I could wipe the bottom of my putter with a towel but then he asked me why I needed to put saliva on the bottom of the putter. I said to him my intentions were for the putter to sit better on these greens.
Jordan Spieth delights a young volunteer and presenting here with an autographed golf ball. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“Also there has been times when I am putting from the one spot on the practice putting green I will pour a little water on the spot where I place my putter so that the putter doesn’t slide.
“I didn’t think it was legal and I know I couldn’t put any saliva on the face of the putter but then he didn’t know, and he went and radioed all the other officials and they didn’t know the answer to my question.
“It was then a call was placed to the USGA but before he found out the answer, he was coming up to me on each hole to say that they were still awaiting an answer.”
Spieth was finally advised walking down the eighth fairway by McFee that the advice of the USGA that it is illegal to apply any moisture, and this case saliva, to the bottom of any club.
“I was finally informed that if the intention is to use an outside influence to help you play, and that’s why I never did it as I could see it that way, but then I could also see it another way as it just like spitting on your clubs to clean them and what you may do if you don’t have a caddy,” Spieth added.
No guessing who wins the post round popularity contest with World No. 1 Jordan Spieth in great demand for an autograph.
