Brian Davis Harsh Call

stockdam

Brian Davis called a potential penalty on himself on the playoff hole at the Heritage Classic.

Davis had hit his 2nd shot onto the beach. Jim Furyk hit the green in two and since he was "away" he putted up to about 4 feet away.

Davis then decided to play from the beach and hit it onto the green about 20 or more away. However he immediately asked for the referee as he believed that he had hit a loose object (a loose reed that was sticking out of a bundle of dead reeds). The TV cameras confirmed that he hit the reed on his backswing. The reed barely moved and Davis certainly didn't gain any advantage. However since it was a loose object he was penalised two shots.

It was very good of Davis to call for a ruling when we see deliberate cheating in many other sports. However I'd like to see the rule changed - he could hardly avoid hitting the reed on his backswing and gained no advantage.

Harsh.

Su Campu

Yeah I was listening to it on XM Radio and it did seem very harsh indeed. But fair balls to him for calling it, I'm sure if he hadn't nobody would have been the wiser.

Still, a bad second shot was the cause of it.

Mr. Larson

Yeah fair play to him for calling it - but I can't help but be a bit cynical about these 'honesty calls' that are made on HDTV.

You have to wonder if there were no cameras and he was 25 feet below the nearest spectator or player would he have called it?

Maybe he would. But players aren't stupid. They all have 58' HDTV's at home I'm sure and have seen the slow mo replays. He had to know it was going to be picked up if he was in a hazard. Fair play to him for calling it immediately but it sickens me a bit to hear the commentary waxing lyrical about the honesty involved like he was the only one in the world that could have known - stuff like "He's won friends around the`world" and "This is great for the game of golf" and "Both men were winners out there today" is just condescending, ott nonsense talk imho.

mag

i didnt think it was a 'loose impediment' as it didnt move as such, just waved back & forward from its base as its a plant.

Atlantic1

I have fond memories of him. My son and I were 2 of the few who were behind the 3rd green in Druids Glen in 1999 ( I think!) when he holed his 2nd shot for an eagle.

Fair play to him for calling it on himself. In sharp contrast to what an Ivory Coast born Chelsea striker might have done, if it was a soccer situation!

BiffoGooner

Awful way for a tournament to end, especially in a playoff.10 minutes spent chatting about a tiny piece of dried reed on a beach that he barely brushed off in his backswing anyway.Seemed a bit farcical, and the rules official didn't seem sure if it was a penalty or not for a while.Few of the crowd were starting to boo by then end.Killed any potential excitement really.The rules of Golf don't lend themselves to good tv a lot of the time.

scout353

mag wrote: »

i didnt think it was a 'loose impediment' as it didnt move as such, just waved back & forward from its base as its a plant.

BiffoGooner wrote: »

Awful way for a tournament to end, especially in a playoff.10 minutes spent chatting about a tiny piece of dried reed on a beach that he barely brushed off in his backswing anyway.Seemed a bit farcical, and the rules official didn't seem sure if it was a penalty or not for a while.Few of the crowd were starting to boo by then end.Killed any potential excitement really.The rules of Golf don't lend themselves to good tv a lot of the time.

It was confirmed as a loose impediment as the rules official pulled it out afterwards!

The debate was whether it was a loose impediment or not and whether it happened on the backswing or downswing. There would have not been a penalty had it happened on the down swing!

The HD replays clearly showed movement on the piece of reed!

Whether the rule should be changed is another debate!

Aidric

Was watching it last night, crap way to end a tournament. In all honesty he would have lost anyway.