Palm Harbor, FL ..
Graeme McDowell has applauded proposed changes to the Rules of Golf that if approved, will come into effect on 1st January, 2019.
‘G Mac’ was particularly pleased the ruling bodies are considering to do away with what he describes as ‘silly’ penalties such as the now infamous Dustin Johnson 2016 US Open fiasco and the ‘trial by TV’ scenario that saw Padraig Harrington kicked out of a Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship when unbeknown to him he was seen via ‘slow mo’ TV to have moved his golf ball in picking-up his marker.
“Penalties like that imposed on Dustin and the situation regarding Padraig out in Abu Dhabi are silly, and it’s just that technology has overtaken the rule book and outdated it”, he said.
“So, it’s great seeing the R & A and USGA proposing to modernise the Rules of Golf to make them better, make them easier and make the game faster.
Graeme McDowell working on his game ahead of the 2017 Valspar Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“Ninety per cent of what they are proposing are great but then I am not sure about allowing the tapping down of spike marks as they tried that on the European Tour back in the ’80s and it was abused.
“Some of the proposals are work in progress but generally I see them as a big new green light for the game.”
But then if there is one rule McDowell would like to change, but at a pro level, and that deals with the signing of scorecards.
“Signing a scorecard in this day-and-age is a very antiquated procedure and at what point in history of the game do we now say let’s be sensible, and given we are playing for a lot of money, and a guy goes and shoots a 66 and doesn’t put his name to a piece of paper.
“And this even though you have computer evidence, TV evidence and there’s also a person walking with the groups recording the scores.
“So, I think that rule needs to change given there is some people and bodies out there recording each and every individual score we shoot.
G Mac would love to see the various Tours rule about ‘mud balls’ and knowing when course conditions are soft.
“Another interesting rule is mud balls and divots.
“To me, I can’t understand why they can’t bring in lift-clean-and-place situation we had in the third round of the Honda Classic when we were getting mud balls but there was no such rule in place.
“I had the biggest piece of mud on my ball in the middle of the sixth fairway in the third round of the Honda so I would be for lift-clean-and-place where the course in borderline in some places.
“I ask that after hitting the middle of the fairway and to find a huge dollop of mud on your ball is that golf?”
