I t happened again! What many consider to be golf’s “dumbest rule” took center stage during the Genesis Open at the iconic Riviera Country Club. Golf’s Golden Boy, Jordan Speith, was disqualified after signing for a three on the par-three fourth hole, when, in fact, he scored a bogey, four. The rules of golf are sometimes flexible, but in this case, there is no equivocation. If a player signs for a score lower than what was actually made, and (and this is very important) LEAVES the scoring area, the penalty is disqualification. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, and report directly to the nearest “Dairy Queen” (sorry, Jordan you are DQ’d)!
After an opening round 66, Speith found himself very much in contention going into the second round. A sloppy finish led to a one-over-par 73 but his solid three-under-par total put him in good position going into the weekend. Unfortunately for Jordan, his hopes for a strong finish were erased the moment he left the scoring area (presumably to make a quick dash for a “bio-break”) with the deadly “3” occupying the box under the 4th hole.
Many assume these types of scoring penalties are imposed immediately upon signing and turning in the card. This is not the case. In reality, the penalty is imposed only after the player has left the scoring area. Sometimes that area is very obvious (i.e. when the scoring area is in a trailer in the parking lot as is often the case on the PGA Tour). Other times it is not so obvious (i.e. in a state tournament where a section of a tournament pavilion is used for scoring). For CGA championships and USGA qualifiers, it is standard operating procedure for our tournament team to use tape or rope to clearly identify the scoring area. This might look odd to some, but the reasoning is sound. The committee must have a very bright light test so that there can be no question if a player has left the area.
One of my more memorable applications of this rule was during the CGA State Amateur at Boulder Country Club. The scoring area was defined as the entire patio outside of the golf shop. After the second round, I was approached by a player who realized he had signed for a score lower than what he made on a hole. After identifying the error and confirming that indeed he had scored higher on the hole in question, I asked the player if he had left the scoring area. I was a bit worried about how he might respond as the scoring area we had defined was large enough that some interpretation might be required. I breathed a sigh of relief, however, when he answered, “Well yes, I took a shower.” I think it is pretty safe to say that the shower was well outside of our defined scoring area!
The principle here is sound and simple. A player is responsible for vouching for the accuracy of their score. This principle has existed from Old Tom to Tom Watson to Tom Kim. In golf, you grade your own test. This is what makes the game such a test of character. The concept of taking responsibility for your mistakes is more and more incompatible with today’s world where fairness is interpreted by so many as “anything that happens to me that I don’t like.” (Talk to any parent on this one!)
To Jordan Speith’s credit, he didn’t shift the blame and didn’t say it was unfair. There are many examples of this demonstration of class throughout golf’s history and Jordan is to be commended for joining this august club. But let’s be honest, with the type of money that is now at stake on the PGA Tour, is it time for this “stupid rule” to be retired?