Tiger’s illegal drop

While Tiger Woods wasn’t aware he had made an illegal drop on the 15th hole during the second round of the Masters, a bunch of high school golfers in New York City spotted his mistake.

Catholic High School Athletic Association golf coaches make sure the members of their teams know the USGA rules. Bill Niklaus, head coach of the Archbishop Molloy boys golf team and the CHSAA golf chairman, had several of his players ask him the Monday following the Masters why Woods wasn’t penalized on the course, according to the New York Daily News. (continue reading…)

Stevie Williams celebrating his 14th major

Tiger Woods’ former caddie Stevie Williams chimed in on Tiger’s improper drop controversy in the second round of the Masters, which resulted in a two-shot penalty. New Zealand’s 3News caught up with Williams, who is now Adam Scott’s looper, after he landed from the long journey back from Augusta.

Stevie just can’t help himself. (continue reading…)

As you know, Adam Scott won his first major and became the first Australian to win The Masters, which is beyond ginormous for the country.

Lucky for you — as the regular viewers of our show know — Luke Elvy, is an Australian golf commentator, who knows Scotty as well if not better than anyone in the media. He provides fantastic analysis and knowledgeable insight into Scott’s victory that you won’t get anywhere else.

The drop that shook the world

Who said golf was boring?!? My roommate Carson Griffith, a freelance journalist who until February was the senior gossip columnist for the New York Daily News, has learned so much about the game and The Masters since Thursday, particularly in the last 24 hours.

When I asked for a free association, she said: “Crazy pants, Aussie accents, 14-year-old wunderkind, slow play penalties, and just as much Tiger Woods controversy as I got on the tabloid covers.”

Sums it up! And clearly, *tons* of drama. Yep, this is truly a Masters unlike any other.  (continue reading…)

Tiger Woods reacts after his approach from the fairway on the 15th hits the pin and rolls back into the water hazard. Ouch.

 *Update: Read the *update at the bottom of the post.

During the second round of The Masters, Tiger Woods, who is in contention heading into the weekend at Augusta National, caught an unfortunate break on the 15th hole when his approach into the green hit the pin, causing it to roll back into the water hazard. Brutal.

Turns out Woods’ troubles didn’t end there: He may have taken a bad drop. Masters officials are expected to review the incident Saturday morning, and IF it is ruled that Woods did indeed take a drop from the wrong spot, then he could be disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.  (continue reading…)

Image via watoday.com.au

Yep, it’s the week of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, which means it’s that time again! — the “mandatory” players’ meeting historically takes place on-site on Tuesday evening. Longtime WUP readers know that I have fervidly covered the annual event, though it’s always been from NYC or Florida. See here, here, and here.

Well, I’m actually on-site this time, where the vibe at the golf course has been energetic and spirited.

Although it’s the fourth event on the PGA Tour calendar — and no offense to the first three, which I’ve covered with love for the past three years and enjoy thoroughly — but this feels more like the start of the season. Maybe because most of the “big names are in the field, like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. (I know others will argue it doesn’t start until the Masters.) But I digress.

(continue reading…)

Keegan to USGA: Fine, I'll deal with it.

On the eve of the joint teleconference by the USGA and R&A on Wednesday morning from 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. (EST), it’s widely purported that golf’s governing bodies will announce that the decision has been made to ban “anchoring,” aka the putting method used with belly and broomstick putters. Which allegedly will not go into effect until 2016 (because the USGA reviews the Rules of Golf every four years, don’t ask me why).

The short of it via industry chatter and insiders: Anchoring against the fulcrum (body) will be illegal, but golfers will still be allowed to anchor the putter against the arm — a la Matt Kuchar. You can use a long putter as long as it isn’t propped or wedged against a part of the body. The actual wording of the rule will be interesting because of the gray area that comes up in this game and the potential lawsuits. (continue reading…)

The scene of the incident

Graeme McDowell’s opening round at the European PGA Championship ended on a sour note with a triple-bogey 8 to post a two-over 74. He incurred a two-shot penalty on the 18th hole at Wentworth because of a “freak” rules violation and a slight brain fart by the golfer. After an errant tee shot into the bushes, McDowell tried to take a look at his ball, which was entangled in some branches, and as he approached, he thought it may have oscillated a dimple or two.

He went ahead and punched out, and then as he walked down the fairway, he called over a rules official and asked him to take a look at the TV footage because he wasn’t sure if it had moved — even though he couldn’t have necessarily prevented it and didn’t gain an advantageous lie. Point of the rule is to protect the field from a player improving his/her lie, but there’s that gray area where intention should come into play as it does in several other rules. (continue reading…)

Bad break for Simpson at No. 15 at Zurich Classic

Golf’s governing bodies, the USGA and R&A, announced Monday they had finally updated several obsolete rules of golf that were implemented in, like, 1931. Perhaps most significant is that golfers will no longer be penalized for their ball moving after it’s been addressed. In recent years this rule has come into intense scrutiny. Just ask Webb Simpson, Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington, among others. (continue reading…)

The winning putt. Finally.

With darkness quickly closing in at CordeValle, Bryce Molder drained a seven-footer for birdie on No. 17 to beat Briny Baird on the sixth playoff hole. (Finally. Cripes, it was like, does either of you want to win this tournament?) Before Baird putted, Molder fixed a ballmark in his own line and then right before Molder putted, he tapped down the green six or seven times in the same area in front of the cup. (continue reading…)