Ian Poulter at Volvo Golf Champions, Bahrain
Ian Poulter believes some golf rules need to be re-examined to avoid the kind of disqualifications the sport has seen in recent weeks.
Padraig Harrington and Camilo Villegas were both disqualified from events this month because of violations noticed by TV viewers.
“If you look at the scenarios and situations we’ve had in the last 12 months, I think a lot of rules certainly need to be looked at,” Poulter said ahead of the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain. “I think there’s no common sense involved with a number of the rules, so that needs to be addressed.”
Harrington was in second place after the first round of last week’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championships but was disqualified after a TV viewer pointed out that he did not replace his ball correctly when it moved after he picked up his marker.
Villegas was disqualified from the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii after he had swatted away loose pieces of grass while his attempted chip up a slope rolled back toward him – removing objects that could have influenced the movement of the ball.
Both players were disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard, because their violations should have resulted in a penalty.
Poulter said the rule was outdated, since there was no longer much of a need for an official scorecard handed in by the players.
He added: “Every shot is visible for everybody to see on television, we have walking scorers, and there are the stats people. Therefore, it’s not like you can cheat your score. Therefore, leave the door open if someone has made a mistake. If they get a two-shot penalty, they are still in the tournament. The tournament still benefits from having some of the world’s best players in the field.”
Poulter himself was given a one-stroke penalty during a two-way play-off at the Dubai World Championship in November after he dropped the ball on his coin marker on the green, effectively giving the victory to Robert Karlsson of Sweden. In that case, the Englishman immediately called over the referee to notify him of the violation.
Golf viewers have been warned not to turn on players if they see them grounding their clubs on sand in Bahrain this week as, for the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions, there are deemed to be no bunkers, just acres of sandy waste areas.
The European Tour’s ruling allows players to take practice swings, move loose impediments and ground the club 'lightly behind the ball’ in all sand areas.
Chief referee Andy McFee, the man who broke the disqualification news to Harrington in Abu Dhabi last week, said: “We have taken this decision to provide clarity for the players.
“The golf course is absolutely fine, but the blurring of the boundaries between desert and bunker, whilst visually attractive, potentially provides a major problem of definition. As this is common throughout the course and not restricted to the odd situation here and there, we felt this was the best way to exercise our duty to define the course properly. It will lead to some odd-looking situations, but that is infinitely preferable to players incurring penalties.”
By Telegraph staff
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