Steve Stricker cleared after TV viewer calls in rule violation
The way it's going lately, it can't be a major championship unless someone calls in to report a violation of the rules. This time, the USGA talked to the player before he signed his card. And unlike Tiger Woods at the Masters, it turns out Steve Stricker did nothing wrong on the par-3 third hole except for a bad tee shot that led to double bogey.
The way it's going lately, it can't be a major championship unless someone calls in to report a violation of the rules.
This time, the USGA talked to the player before he signed his card. And unlike Tiger Woods at the Masters, it turns out Steve Stricker did nothing wrong on the par-3 third hole except for a bad tee shot that led to double bogey.
It's not an intent-based rule... we wanted to review it
USGA vice president Thomas O'Toole met Stricker right after he birdied his last hole for a 1-over 71. O'Toole said a call came in that Stricker improved his lie in an area where he intended to take a penalty drop by walking back and forth on the thick grass.
His tee shot went on the edge of a bunker in the trees short and left of the green. The rules official determined it was not in a bunker, and Stricker took a one-shot penalty for an unplayable lie because a tree got in the way of his swing. With the elevated green, he walked up the hill a few times to see the flag. O'Toole said the viewer suggested Stricker trampled the grass where he was to drop the ball.
"It's not an intent-based rule," O'Toole said. "In light of other things, we wanted to review it."
After meeting with Stricker, it was determined that he did not drop it in the area he was walking, and it was not a violation. Stricker said he was surprised to see O'Toole in the trailer to ask about the drop.