Within two weeks, we have seen two rules violations, one on the PGA tour and one on the LPGA tour. Dustin Johnson was assessed a two stroke penalty for grounding his club in a hazard while Juli Inkster was disqualified for using a training aid during a tournament round.
Inkster was disqualified from the LPGA Safeway Classic for using a weighted training aid on her club while waiting on the 10th hole on the Ghost Creek Course. Inkster shot a 67 and was 8 under par after the first two rounds. She had a 30 minute wait on the 10th hole; so she used a “doughnut” weight on her 9 iron in order to stay loose.
Director of Tournament Competitions Sue Witters said a viewer noticed the device from the television broad cast of the event and contacted tournament officials. Inkster was already on the 17th hole of the course at Pumpkin Ridge when officials determined she had indeed used the device. “She was told when she came off the course after the final hole”, Witters said. Inkster was surprised and unaware she had broken the rule.
"The rules staff here made the decision on the rule and we took it one step further and called the USGA," Witters said. "We would have loved to have some wiggle room on that. But it's pretty cut and dried. "Being the professional she is, there wasn't much to say once the decision was read."
Inkster issued a brief statement. "I had a 30-minute wait and I needed to loosen up," she said. "It had no effect on my game whatsoever, but it is what it is. I'm very disappointed."
Juli breached Rule 14-3 in the USGA Rules of Golf. Penalty: Disqualification
In the Decisions on The Rules of Golf Book published by the USGA under Rule 14-3/10; Use of Training Aid or Swing Aid During Round
Q. During a round, may a player make a stroke or a practice swing using a club with a weighted headcover or “donut” on it, or use any other device designed as a training or swing aid?
A. No. The player would be using an artificial device to assist him in his play in breach of Rule 14-3, but see also Decision 4-4a/7 for use of a weighted training club (Revised).
The Rules of Golf is carried by every professional on all the tours. It is not mandatory to go through a rules class to be a professional but it is highly recommended. All the tours hire rules officials to oversee each tournament. Unlike the PGA Championship, there are usually only a few rules officials to govern over the entire field.
Television viewers are allowed to call in, e-mail or text the tournament officials when they see a violation. That is how Juli was caught using the training aid and that is also how I witnessed Dustin Johnson the week before ground his club in a bunker. I was Twittering the PGA when I saw the violation along with the many other viewers who saw the same thing I did.
The Decision on the Rules of Golf is carried by only the officials on the tours. You can purchase a Rules of Golf book for $2.00 (182 pages) or purchase the Decision book for $15.95 (555 pages) from www.usga.org. The decision book has all the obscure rulings that have happened over the years on the tours. It is a great read.
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