Pebble Beach, California ….
Top-ranked Scot Russell Knox declared ‘common sense’ has prevailed with the decision to lift the bizarre restrictions on caddies lining-up their players.
After the fiasco of the past few weeks, the R & A and USGA jointly announced Rule 10.2b (4) has been ‘clarified’ after the scenario that saw China’s Haotong Li slapped with a two-stroke penalty at the Dubai Desert Classic and American Denny McCarthy also penalised at the Phoenix Open but then have the penalty rescinded.
The ruling saw Li forfeit a share of third place in Dubai and also lose some Euro 100,000 in prize-money.
McCarthy’s caddie was deemed to have breached the rule in helping his player line-up a shot during the second round in Phoenix and with McCarthy forced to add two strokes to his card in a round of 67.
The PGA Tour later reviewed the ruling and reinstated the two shots so McCarthy officially scored a 65.
Russell Knox says ‘common sense’ has prevailed with clarification of the rules of golf relating to caddies helping players line-up their shots. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Knox was also competing last week in Phoenix and labelled both rulings wrongful.
“They got it wrong in the first place with both rulings, firstly with Haotong in Dubai and Denny out in Phoenix last week,” said Knox,
“I feel awful for Haotong Li as they rescinded Denny’s penalty because the penalty imposed on Haotong has had more impact in terms of where he should have finished in Dubai and the money he lost with regards the ruling.
“Finally, common sense has prevailed and with the announcement this morning things are going in the right direction.
“I agree with the rule that you should not be able to line-up your player once he or she has taken their stance and that should be fairly obvious if that was happening in both instances but it was not 100% obvious in both cases.
Denny McCarthy’s two-shot penalty from Friday’s round has been rescinded.
Here’s why: pic.twitter.com/RPCck88UMV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 2, 2019
“It was a matter really of the caddies just doing their jobs.”
Knox was commenting ahead of this week’s AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and teeing-up on three rain-drenched host courses coming a 10th place finish in Phoenix.
“I was happy with the way I played last week and it was also nice to have no bogeys on Sunday,” he said.
“So, I was pleased with my effort as the final round was played in tough conditions and it was a good final round to hopefully build on.”
Knox commences a quest for a first PGA Tour win in over two years teeing-up on the Monterey Peninsula course with former Atlanta Falcons quarter-back, Matt Ryan as his amateur partner in the $US 7.6m event.
Ryan, 33 led the Falcons into the 2016 SuperBowl only to lose in the dying minutes to the New England Patriots. He had signed a $US 150m five-year extension with the Falcons last year to become the then first $US 30m a season quarter-back in the history of the NFL.
Joining Knox is fellow Scot Martin Laird who tees-up on Spyglass Hill.
