I was more than a little surprised by a Two stroke penalty( essentially cost the player $100k) assessed due to Caddie Interference on the green. Apparently the Caddie was providing assistance with lining up the hole too close to the player and attempting to assist etc. I have been playing for quite a few years and have never seen that penalty assessed. Just curious what y'all think.....fair / unfair. Seems excessive to me? I watched a replay.....still don't agree with the call.
Golf Penalties.......$100k mistake. Dubai Classic Tournament
- Thread starter whart
- Start date
It part of the changes of rules that started January 1st. The pentalty was BS. Did not follow the spirit of the rule. Just my opinion.
well, to me, it is the way it was always supposed to be but never enforced. The player plays and the caddie carries the clubs. The caddie is not supposed to line up putts but this has been going on for decades. In affect, the caddie and golfer are a team as opposed to it being the golfer versus the golfer. The caddie shold be interchangeable and make no difference. The rules have been tightened up and, now, assessed. In the video, the caddie watches the player place his ball while standing directly behind the player. Then the caddie whispers something in the player's ear and walks away. This has always been done but is clearly the caddie assisting the player with his putt.
It is a radicle change from last year and we'll see if it is enforced throughout the year.
The rules changes made January 1st were made to speed up play and simplify the rules. I don't see how this rule simplifies anything. If you watch the video the player starts to address the ball by putting his putter head down beside the ball. At that point the caddie had already gotten up and had made 2 steps walking left. Then the player puts his putter head behind the ball. The caddie was no where near the players line when he put his putter head behind the ball. Like I said just my opinion.
Yeah. I have no clue on the actual wording of this rule. But based on what I saw, the caddie in no way influenced the line of the player. Just a very poor call (or rule if the rule was in fact broken here).
