A golf icon couldn’t wrap his head around a ruling that affected Rory McIlroy at the US Open
The fog threw up a host of unseen obstacles during the first round of the US Open. However, it also shed some valuable light on matters after one American golf favourite conceded that it led to him learning about a rule he was previously unaware of.
Rory McIlroy was one of the many affected by the misty conditions at Shinnecock Hills as he carded a first-round 69 at one-under par during his first round. That’s after the fog led to a two-hour delay during the morning phase of this year’s penultimate major, leaving the field to pass the time however they saw fit.
However, it wasn’t immediately clear just how long the fog delay would take when it was first announced. That left some participants halfway through the hole they were playing at the time and the rules dictate a group can finish their current hole should they wish despite any delay.
The USGA’s Senior Manager of Rules, Jay Roberts, then appeared on the Golf Channel broadcast to discuss the weather and rulings during this period. It was then analyst Tom Abbott quizzed Roberts on whether players could practice on the green of the last hole they played during the pause.
Not only did the USGA rep confirm practice was fine during these break periods but he added this could take place in any practice area. What’s more, he also clarified golfers were allowed to train on the green of the hole they’d just completed provided they weren’t able to progress the course.
“Great call, I had no idea,” said lead analyst and 2003 US Open champion Jim Furyk. Abbott reassured Furyk that it’s one law where a lot of golfers are in the dark.
“In USGA championships they allow you to practice on the previous green during play as long as you don’t hold up play,” said his Golf Channel colleague. “It’s something a lot of players don’t know.” And the extent of the rules he was in the dark about went further than that.
Per Rule 5.5b of the USGA handbook, players can practice on the green of the hole they’ve just completed. This is provided they haven’t played the first stroke of the following hole and are not holding up play in any way.
“I was totally unaware,” added Furyk in similarly dumbfounded fashion. Practice can be expanded to also include chipping on or near the putting green of the previous hole, however, players are not permitted to practice out of a bunker and cannot unreasonably hold up play.
Given the extent of the fog on display at Shinnecock Hills, it’s the kind of delay that doesn’t happen too often. However, Furyk will consider himself enlightened after learning this one particular piece of information.
It was also during Thursday’s first round that a wayward shot from McIlroy on the fourth hole (his 13th of the day) was almost picked up by a spectator. However, the USGA has since released a statement insisting the woman in question did not pick up McIlroy’s ball and interfere with play as many had thought.
