Another of “those” rules…..

Julie was waiting for some time for the hole to clear, so to stretch up she used a weight on her club… against the rules…. she is DQ…

The part that gets me is a TV viewer called in and reported the infringement…..

How many other sportts allow the public to decide the outcome…

Can you imagine someone calling in saying ” Roger Federers last serve was out”!

“The All Blacks pass was forward”!

“The soccer player used his hands”!

No way right… that is why there are referee’s…

It is unfortunate though, this is a rule, Julie who is 50 years old and been playing  for  long time, should know that you cannot use training aids during a round, but I don’t think it is the responsibility of some TV watcher to dob her in…

Below is from Golfweek….

Juli Inkster was disqualified from the LPGA Safeway Classic for using a weighted training aid on her club while waiting on the No. 10 hole on the Ghost Creek Course.

After the 50-year-old Hall of Famer finished her round and was told of the disqualification, Inkster passed quickly by autograph seekers and reporters without comment. She quickly left in a course shuttle.

It was heartbreaking for Inkster, who shot a 67 and was 8 under after the first two rounds. She was in a group just three strokes behind leader Ai Miyazato.

Inkster, who had a 30 minute wait for the No. 10 hole, apparently used a “doughnut” weight on her 9-iron to stay loose.

LPGA Director of Tournament Competitions Sue Witters said a viewer noticed the device from the television broadcast 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.

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.”

Steve Williams has slammed speculation that golf world number one Tiger Woods is planning to dump him as his caddy.

Williams has been Woods’ caddy since 1999, carrying his bag for 13 of his 14 major victories, but there have been reports the relationship has been strained since Woods admitted to cheating on his wife earlier this year.

Williams told LiveSport this morning that reports of a split between the two was just speculation.

“I’m sure if there was going to be some parting of the ways, I’d be the first to know. There’s always a lot of speculation in sports, as you know in general. But from my point of view I don’t see any chance of that happening.

“Obviously he’s not playing well. His results aren’t what we’re used to but people speculate.

“Tiger and I are very good friends and we’ve been through a tough time, there’s no question of that. I’m fully supportive of the guy and he’s been great through this whole situation with me,” he told the radio station’s Breakfast of Champions show.

Woods has had mixed results since his return to golf after taking a break from the game earlier in the year for personal reasons.

He returned to play the US Masters in April, finishing in a tie for fourth at Augusta and recorded another top five finish at the US Open in June but since then his form has taken a downward spiral.

Woods was well off the pace at the Bridgestone Invitational earlier this month carding an 18-over and finished tied for 28th at the USPGA Championship on Monday,

Williams however is happy with how Woods is playing and is confident he can bounce back and retain his number one spot.

“Tiger didn’t even manage to hit 50 per cent of the fairways for the week (at the USPGA Championship) and to finish under par for the tournament was just a remarkable effort of courage and never giving in.”

“He did prove a little bit from the week before. There were some good signs last week and I’m looking forward to next week’s tournament.

The question still remains whether Woods will represent the United States at the Ryder Cup which starts on October 1st after he missed out on automatic qualification.

Williams confirmed that Woods will be playing in the FedEx Cup opener later this month after qualifying for the end of season series when he made the cut at Whistling Straits on Monday.

But with Woods ranked 108th in the FedEX standings, the world number one will need to perform each week to ensure he isn’t eliminated from the series, effectively ending his year.

“We’re actually in an unsual predicament which you would never thought Tiger Woods would be in.

“Any week in the next few weeks if he has a poor week, like he did at the Bridgestone, then his year is finished.

Williams is confident that Woods will return to the form that has seen him win 13 majors in just 11 years.

“He’ll get back to his best. It may not be this year but it will come.”

(from nzherald)

Did anyone see the finish at the PGA Championship, Dustin Johnson was realistically denied the title when he played from a bunker that all week spectators had been using as a walkway. He grounded his club.

He was assessed a 2 stroke penalty, took the 5 off his card wrote 7, went from playoff to tied for 5th place.

He said, “there was no way I thought that was a bunker”.

The PGA is taking some flak for this!

Dustin took it like a man though…  kudos mate, I feel for you…..

Without the 7 on the par 3 17th, my score would not have been that bad….. 

Event starts tomorrow at Laguna, I don’t expect miracles but will be nice to play in a 4 dayer again….

http://www.aseangolftour.com.sg/

After a review of their earlier decision, the board have decided I can play…… Better start practice again….;-)

The Mercedes/ASEAN event is at Laguna next week, a bit disappointed my application to play was rejected.

As it is my workplace I thought I would have had no problem…

Oh well cant fight City hall…. makes me wonder though if the USPGA which is the tour every player aspires too, suddenly said, “only US citizens can play” or European Tour “Only Europeans can play”…. I know it is trying to develop golf for the region but does not make sense to me…

Looks like a week off…..

59 for Appleby, Bangladesh player wins event…. and Tseng Ya-ni from Chinese Taipai is the youngest player to win 3 majors!!

Not to mention Ross Fisher held off Padrig in Ireland, that would have been disapointing…

Also Bernhard defeated Freddie for his 2nd Senior Open title in a row… Now this one I enjoyed!!!

Not taking anything from the others, Stu Appleby is good bloke, I remember him at the Coolum Classic a few years ago hit a shot, and it was not perfect…. he did not know the micro phone was on…. “cut you little white f******ker”…. loud and clear as you like… always plays with emotion…..

Bangladesh a golfing powerhouse??? not yet but I know the Brunei course, I ws Head Pro for 2 years there. It is not easy, 64 has to be repected…..

Langer/Couples… throw in John Cook these are the boys I used to watch… it was fun…. A Norman/Faldo/Price in the mix and I am home again….

I love golf!!!! It drives me crazy, but look! Anything is possible….

Another ridiculous rules fiasco, a Rules official decided on his own that the players wedge was not conforming, while she was playing, how he/she came to that conclusion is beyond me…
So the player was escorted from the course… in the middle of her round.. she was 3 under..

And guess what, the wedge was fine… unbelievable!

Full story from Golfweek.

Sarah Brown, the Duramed Futures Tour rookie wrongly disqualified from last week’s event, has been offered $2,000 by the tour for its mistake. However, her father told Golfweek that she deserves more.

Brown’s father, Keith, said Wednesday that Zayra Calderon, the tour’s chief executive officer, proposed $2,000 as compensation. Tour officials would not confirm any offer but said they have apologized to Sarah Brown and her father, which the Browns confirmed. The amount would cover Brown’s entry fees for the final four events of the year.

Brown, 18, of Lopatcong, N.J., was removed from the course with nine holes remaining in last week’s The International at Concord in New Hampshire after a rules official determined that she was using a wedge with nonconforming grooves.

The Browns claimed that the wedge was conforming. It turned out they were correct: the wedge, a Ping Tour-W, is on the U.S. Golf Association’s list of wedges that comply with the 2010 condition of competition regarding grooves.

A player usually is allowed to finish the round when there is a questionable ruling that may result in disqualification. That way, the player’s score can stand if the ruling is not upheld.

“It’s not that (the rules official) made a mistake,” Keith Brown said. “Everyone makes mistakes. It was the arrogance to say, ‘I’m pulling her off the course.’ ”

The rules officials, identified as Jim Linyard and Kelly Wergin, are employees of the Duramed Futures Tour. Golfweek has been unable to reach them for comment. Futures Tour officials would not disclose whether any disciplinary action has been taken against them.

Keith Brown said he is not satisfied with the tour’s compensation. “It’s like punching someone in the nose and taking their wallet,” Keith Brown said. “The tour wants to return the wallet and say, ‘I’m sorry.’ What about the punch in the nose?”

The Browns are asking for:

• $5,638, the amount Sarah Brown would’ve earned had she finished The International at Concord at 8-under 208. She was 3 under par for the event when she was removed from the golf course with nine holes remaining.

• A waiver of the entry fee to 2010 LPGA Q-School, a $5,000 value. Brown advanced to the finals last year, finishing 84th.

• An annual seminar for Duramed Futures Tour rules official outlining how to handle difficult situations. “I’d like it to be called the Sarah Brown Seminar,” Keith Brown said.

“I went through a lot that day,” said Sarah Brown, who began the day at 5 under par, three shots off the lead, but was 2 over at the turn. “It was upsetting and humiliating for me to be in that situation.”

A spokeswoman for the Duramed Futures Tour would not comment on a proposed settlement but took responsibility for the mistake.

“We’ve owned up to our mistake and explained the situation to Sarah, but we do not plan to discuss any internal handling of the situation,” said Joely Pique, the tour’s public-relations manager.

The grooves rule was enacted by most major professional tours beginning this year to reduce spin on shots from the rough and emphasize driving accuracy. However, the Duramed Futures Tour delayed adopting the rule until July out of concern for its players being able to secure new equipment.

Brown’s wedge was stamped with an “XG” on the hosel (“X’’ indicating the Roman numeral 10 to signify 2010 and “G’’ for grooves), and the Web site indeed showed the wedge to be conforming. The wedge in question is the fifth of five Tour-W 54/10 (54 degrees of loft, 10 degrees of bounce) wedges listed on the Web site.

Keith Brown said he would like to avoid litigation, but “anything is on the table” if the Duramed Futures Tour does not agree to the conditions. Brown said he has been contacted by attorneys who read about the incident and are willing to take his case on contingency. Brown said the firms claim to be able to win a six-figure settlement.

“There are other people who’d go for the jugular,” Keith Brown said. “I don’t want any part of it. I don’t think that’s right. I’m not the McDonald’s lady with the cup of coffee.”

The Browns would like to be compensated with earnings equal to those for players who finished The International at 8 under par. Brown missed a 12-foot birdie putt as a rules official sifted through her bag, which was in Brown’s line of vision.

That putt would’ve put her at 4 under par. Brown’s best score on the back nine at Beaver Meadow Golf Course during the tournament was 4 under, Keith Brown said.

“There’s no guarantees, but they should give her the benefit of the doubt,” he said.

The Browns would like the earnings to count on the money list, if the additional earnings would bump her over any important thresholds. The top 90 on the money list earn Futures Tour status for 2011. The top five earn LPGA status, while Nos. 6-10 earn conditional status. Nos. 11-20 earn exemptions into the final stage of Q-School.

Brown is No. 106 on the Futures Tour money list, with $2,921. The Browns’ desired earnings from The International would give her $8,559 and move her to 48th in earnings.

Keith Brown also said that should Sarah Brown cross any thresholds with the additional earnings (i.e. top 20, top 90, etc.), they do not want another player bumped out of that threshold by Brown’s presence. In other words, the No. 90 finisher on the money list would remain No. 90 even if passed by Brown.

“I worked so hard to get where I wanted,” Sarah Brown said. She was a 2009 AJGA first-team All-American. “I got cheated out of my best finish (of my pro career) and my biggest paycheck. That was the hardest part.”

When I was young…. very young, seems like a million years ago, I used to play rugby… as just about every male child in New Zealand did….

I was ok, no standout but I was fast and loved it…. but I never scored a try.. (goal)…

Not that couldn’t I had many opportunities, but I did not know where to press the ball…. seems silly doesn’t it….

In rugby you have the goalposts and a 10 metre area behind and you could press the ball anywhere in that 10 metre long by 50 metre wide area and you had scored 4 points…

I did not know that, I thought you had to press exactly on the “try line” and if I missed the try was not counted and everyone would laugh, so when I got close i would pass the ball….

The point is I did not know, no one told me and I did not ask, shy, scared, embarrassed whatever, I did not ask….

Today I had a young student, very talented, and we have had many lessons, and we were both obviously getting frustrated, and she berated herself… “why can i not do it”?…

So we took a step backwards, and I asked her if she understood what made a golf ball fly, she assumed hitting it, but not how…

I broke it down into how hitting down, brings grooves and dimples into play as is designed, and a light went on in her head… “well why did you not just say that”! And the next shots were flush….

Doh………. sometimes the only thing between a good golf swing and a bad golf swing is a question…..