We've been looking back at the best read stories of 2017, and at Number One it's the Lexi Thompson incident when she was left heart–broken and in tears after being landed with a four–stroke penalty while leading the final round of ANA Inspiration.
Poor old Bryson Dechambeau. With the weight of expectation hanging heavy on him not helped by his pre-tournament comments, the big-hitting man from California caught an awful piece of luck. Dechambeau birdied the 2nd hole to move to three under par for the tournament when lady luck deserted him. The rule Bryson was hoping might apply, Rule 16.1 (e) states
In another blow to the ‘Golf Scientist’ Bryson DeChambeau, the USGA have banned the use of protractors.
Let this be a warning to you – never tamper with your golf equipment during a competitive round. Harold Varner III did exactly that and unwittingly got a two-shot penalty during the opening round of The Players after making an equipment change that was influenced in part by the actions of a walking official.
Today the European Tour announced a significant change to its membership regulations for the 2016 season, with players now only required to compete in a minimum of five European Tour sanctioned tournaments outside the Major Championships and World Golf Championships.
What is wrong with Patrick Reed? He is a great golfer but a rather marmite character who seems you either love or hate. Sadly, given his propensity to sail close to the wind with the golf rules, supporters are few and far between.
It was a fine victory for Adam Scott last weekend, he is a great ball striker, but I must confess I rather sighed when I saw him using a long putter to great effect once again. It was a similar feeling to that I had when Scott won the Masters back in 2013. I’m sorry, but I am with the brigade who consider these long putters cheat sticks.
'Backstopping'. It's golf's latest term for us to get to grips with and it's causing mayhem with golf's morality and presents an awkward scenario for the rule book...
Jordan Spieth is saying that his putter has "friction issues" with greens when they get "shiny." And has asked for a ruling. What on earth is he on about?
It was great to see Graeme McDowell win again on the European Tour but had the tour applied the slow play rules more strictly come Sunday afternoon might it have been a different story? The Northern Irishman was carrying a ‘bad time’ after a transgression during his second round and playing in the final pairing come Sunday he and partner Victor Dubuisson became detached at the back of the field.
They say that girls rule and boys drool. Well, the girls say that anyway. And it's probably true, but on this occasion girls did indeed rule but it was the boys who took home the golf loot...
There were a number of rulings made by the R&A officials on day three of the Open but none was more interesting as that for Lee Westwood. And hats off to the 46 year-old Englishman who showed pure class and honesty in dealing with the situation.
