Inkster DQ at Safeway

[LoJo]

Perhaps some of you can list those Rules of Golf which are "stupid" and those which aren't.

It always happens when there is an incident like this that the experts come out of the woodwork to declare various Rules stupid. Of course, the more popular the player who commits the infraction, the more "stupid" and "unfair" the Rule is.

First off....there aren't Rules officials with every group in LPGA events such as the Safeway...it would be too costly. They don't even do that for most PGA events. I don't know how many are actually on the course, but the idea of having a RO sitting there waiting to jump in and advise players that they're about to breach a Rule is ridiculous. That's not their job. In USGA events, there are walking RO's w/ each group.

Secondly, you most certainly can have an alignment stick or a weighted club which conforms, or any 'gadget' with you during a stipulated round. You just can't USE them, as Juli did.

I don't see how taping fingers can be compared to using a training aid or an artificial device or unusual equipment. Huh? Man...that's a stretch in order to justify the declared "stupidity" of R. 14-3.

While it's terrible what happened to Juli, she clearly didn't know she was in violation of the Rules. Nor did her caddie I guess. Just as with all sorts of violations, it is the responsibility of the player to know the Rules. I'm amazed that Juli was ignorant of Rule 14-3.

I was very surprised at Inkster's comments afterwards:

"I had a 30-minute wait, and I needed to loosen up," Inkster, who quickly left the course and did not speak to reporters, told a member of the LPGA media relations staff. "It had no effect on my game whatsoever, but it is what it is. I'm very disappointed."

A bit contradictory, there, Jules .... She said she had a 30 minute wait and "needed to loosen up", but then claims doing so had "no effect" on her game. OK. Right.

[Putter]

I can see a first year rookie maybe doing something like this, but a veteran like Inkster should know that it's a no-no.

Personally, I don't think it's a stupid rule - like LoJo said, what rules are stupid and what rules aren't? I'll tell you one thing, if I was a rookie starting out on tour, part of my daily practice would be reading the rule book.

Tape? I don't get that. If tape is an "advantage" shouldn't golf gloves be against the rules?

[bangkokbobby]

But what about the draconian nature of the penalty, LoJo? A DQ for that? Last week, even though DJ was left out the playoff at the PGA Championship, at least he finished and pulled a check...it seems to me that what Juli did was not so much more of a foul than DJ's...but instead of docking her a stroke or two, the rule carries an automatic DQ...that seems harsh...

based on how the rule reads, couldn't they have determined that the weight didn't give undue advantage...

14-3. Artificial Devices and Unusual Equipment
The United States Golf Association (USGA) reserves the right, at any time, to change the Rules relating to artificial devices, unusual equipment and the unusual use of equipment, and make or change the interpretations relating to these Rules.

A player in doubt as to whether use of an item would constitute a breach of Rule 14-3 should consult the USGA.

A manufacturer should submit to the USGA a sample of an item to be manufactured for a ruling as to whether its use during a stipulated round would cause a player to be in breach of Rule 14-3. The sample becomes the property of the USGA for reference purposes. If a manufacturer fails to submit a sample or, having submitted a sample, fails to await a ruling before manufacturing and/or marketing the item, the manufacturer assumes the risk of a ruling that use of the item would be contrary to the Rules.

Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an unusual manner:

a. That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play; or
b. For the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play; or
c. That might assist him in gripping the club, except that:
(i) plain gloves may be worn;
(ii) resin, powder and drying or moisturizing agents may be used; and
(iii) a towel or handkerchief may be wrapped around the grip.
Exceptions:

1. A player is not in breach of this Rule if (a) the equipment or device is designed for or has the effect of alleviating a medical condition, (b) the player has a legitimate medical reason to use the equipment or device, and (c) the Committee is satisfied that its use does not give the player any undue advantage over other players.

2. A player is not in breach of this Rule if he uses equipment in a traditionally accepted manner.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-3:
Disqualification.

[mothra87]

I am in total agreement with LoJo on this one.
Juli used an "I Gotcha Ready" training device. My girls occasionally use it for tempo training.
I was shocked that the TV crew did not notice it when she was shown swinging it.
It can be attached near the grip for power release practice, mid-shaft for tempo-improvement, and near the club head for stretching and warm-up. It looked like Juli had it closer to the head but not entirely so.
Most junior golfers are aware of not being allowed to use devices like these during stipulated rounds. I am amazed that a Hall of Famer and her caddie were caught unaware.
The remark about not gaining an advantage is also shocking to me. I think she would have better served the game by just saying, "Oops, I messed up."
I like Juli but I am glad the violation was reported. It should have been caught by the Golf Channel unless they decided to "look the other way". The bottom line is the field must be protected. It is part of the beauty of the game.

[Blue]

I don't buy the argument that it would be too costly to have rules officials with every group or with the last 20 groups, say, on the weekends. This is a professional sport with million-plus dollar purses. and careers at stake. There are too many gotcha! rules enforcements going on on both the PGA and LPGA. Too many infractions that are being caught by people watching at home from their couches not by the officials on site. This is not how the game is meant to be played.

[mothra87]

The game is meant to be ruled by the players themselves.
If she had won with that violation and it had surfaced later on youtube ....
that would have been a real image killer for Juli. It is best that it was found and dealt with.
The game can be wonderful and harsh, much like life.

[cleo]

Originally Posted by LoJo

I was very surprised at Inkster's comments afterwards:

"I had a 30-minute wait, and I needed to loosen up," Inkster, who quickly left the course and did not speak to reporters, told a member of the LPGA media relations staff. "It had no effect on my game whatsoever, but it is what it is. I'm very disappointed."

A bit contradictory, there, Jules .... She said she had a 30 minute wait and "needed to loosen up", but then claims doing so had "no effect" on her game. OK. Right.

It seems to me, at this point, that the key idea is undue advantage. Common sense would indicate that Inkster did indeed not gain it.

Yes, it was a poor choice of words in the above statement.

I'm guessing that a precedent was set long ago in regards to any use of a training aide during a round giving the officials an easy decision.

[cleo]

Originally Posted by bangkokbobby

based on how the rules read, couldn't they have determined that the weight didn't give undue advantage...

14-3. Artificial Devices and Unusual Equipment
The United States Golf Association (USGA) reserves the right, at any time, to change the Rules relating to artificial devices, unusual equipment and the unusual use of equipment, and make or change the interpretations relating to these Rules.

A player in doubt as to whether use of an item would constitute a breach of Rule 14-3 should consult the USGA.

A manufacturer should submit to the USGA a sample of an item to be manufactured for a ruling as to whether its use during a stipulated round would cause a player to be in breach of Rule 14-3. The sample becomes the property of the USGA for reference purposes. If a manufacturer fails to submit a sample or, having submitted a sample, fails to await a ruling before manufacturing and/or marketing the item, the manufacturer assumes the risk of a ruling that use of the item would be contrary to the Rules.

Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an unusual manner:

a. That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play; or
b. For the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play; or
c. That might assist him in gripping the club, except that:
(i) plain gloves may be worn;
(ii) resin, powder and drying or moisturizing agents may be used; and
(iii) a towel or handkerchief may be wrapped around the grip.
Exceptions:

1. A player is not in breach of this Rule if (a) the equipment or device is designed for or has the effect of alleviating a medical condition, (b) the player has a legitimate medical reason to use the equipment or device, and (c) the Committee is satisfied that its use does not give the player any undue advantage over other players.

2. A player is not in breach of this Rule if he uses equipment in a traditionally accepted manner.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-3:
Disqualification.

If it was Annika I'd expect her to argue the undue advantage point but I suspect Inkster was quite upset with the slow play. Could it be that it was her way of protesting? Were there any players penalized for this or even put on the clock?

[Blue]

Originally Posted by cleo

If it was Annika I'd expect her to argue the undue advantage point but I suspect Inkster was quite upset with the slow play. Could it be that it was her way of protesting? Were there any players penalized for this or even put on the clock?

I don' t think it was a protest. I think she just wasn't paying attention. She had just finished an interview with Stephanie Sparks for the Golf Channel and might have lost focus. When she picked up the weighted club and started swinging it she was still laughing from something that was said during the interview. Perhaps they should ban these television interviews in the middle of competition because they distract players!

The claim that she had to swing a weighted club because of the long wait probably wouldn't hold water because there a lot of other ways to stay loose that don't involve breaking the rules.

Also, her argument that "it had no effect on my game whatsoever" falls flat when she also said she had the donut on "to help her warm up."
So warming up had no effect on your game, Juli? Oops.

I would have loved to see Juli win. Like most people I'm a big fan. But this was a legitimate easy-to-understand rule and she obviously broke it.

[bangkokbobby]

I also don't think these professional rules violations that get call/emailed/tweeted in, etc protect the field...it just protects the field from whomever is on tv, as Say You Se Ri points out: Seoul Sisters Golf // View topic - 2010 Safeway Classic presented by Coca Cola

...who's to say how many people grounded their club like Dustin Johnson...or did something that broke the rules like Juli...but because Nicole and Judy were having a Juli love fest at that moment, the cameras were on her...