Bobby Jones award.

[Atticus_Finch]

We have a winner.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/8628845.stm

This is what makes the sport different from the rest. (well..except snooker maybe)

 

[Toad]

Was watching it last night all credit to Davies, was a tough break but he did not hesitate in calling the official over and ending his chance to win.

 

[HRC99]

To be applauded indeed. But I'm not sure of the rule, so I was wondering if someone could explain it?

 

[birdieman]

He was in a hazard and in the course of making a backswing touched a loose impediment (the reed thing). You cannot ground the club or move loose impediments on the takeaway in a hazard.
As Faldo said golf rules are in black and white and although harsh there was no question a penalty had to be called.
He was in a no-win situation, he knew it moved and even if he didn't see it the replay cameras doing the close up of the sand would have shown it and doubtless scores of people would have phoned it in.

 

[madandra]

I remember a few years ago at the World Matchplay at Wentworth a player caught the wire fence on his back swing and the commentator said he wasn't allowed to ouch it but when he did nothing was said.

 

[funkyfred]

Yes i also watched the outcome of this. fantstic stuff from Brian Davis even to force the play off by sinking a 17 foot putt. The good thing was that he called it against himself as soon as he hit the shot, the strange thing that I found was that he looked very closely at the lie and surely should have seen the small piece of bracken that he hit on his backswing.

But yes an excellent call from Mr Davis a credit to himself and to the sport he represents. I'm not going to bring up the football thing because thats beyond help, but i can remember when there was sportmanship in cricket, another sport going down the wrong path to ruin.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Fair play to him, he did the right thing.

 

[freddielong]

The Davies thing was only a problem because it was a loose impediment in a hazard, if the reed was growing it would not have been a problem, as for the fence it would not be a problem unless he moved it and therefore improved his lie, as I am assumeing he was nt in a hazard and the fence would not be a loose impediment.

 

[John_Findlay]

Another example of why we play the best sport there is. Well done Mr Davies. I salute you.

 

[viscount17]

The Davies thing was only a problem because it was a loose impediment in a hazard, if the reed was growing it would not have been a problem, as for the fence it would not be a problem unless he moved it and therefore improved his lie, as I am assumeing he was nt in a hazard and the fence would not be a loose impediment.

would the fence ruling be different if it had been an oob, or is it only the ball that is affected by that?

 

[madandra]

Just goes to show how honourable this sport is and long may it last.

 

[TRS30]

I agree that he did the right thing but I'll play devil advocate here...

Did he have a choice??

All golfers know that their every shot is on camera and can be watched in slow motion, up close etc so if they don't call it then they will be branded a cheat (and rightly so).

Before anyone jumps on me, I think what he did was right but just throwing it out there.

 

[freddielong]

I think the speed he called the penalty on him self rules that out, it also imo means he was aware the reed was there, I dont understand why he took the shot on knowing the reed was there though it would have be really difficult to have made a swing and not hit taking it away, surely his only choice was the drop and straight chip.

 

[freddielong]

The Davies thing was only a problem because it was a loose impediment in a hazard, if the reed was growing it would not have been a problem, as for the fence it would not be a problem unless he moved it and therefore improved his lie, as I am assumeing he was nt in a hazard and the fence would not be a loose impediment.

would the fence ruling be different if it had been an oob, or is it only the ball that is affected by that?

I wouldn't say so unless he improved his swing path during a pracice swing that moved the fence, if he hit the fence on his backswing and it does not move of change his swing path in any way he can stop without penalty, if when taking his practice swing the fence moves then there is a problem, if it hits it during his shot and it moves and he continues and hits the ball then I think this is also ok, although there is a stipulation for OOB markers they should not be removed, so if the fence was the OOB marker and whilst swinging he hit the fence and removed the fence I do not know but I think it would be OK if it was playing the shot.

 

[viscount17]

ain't it wonderful that the R&A have, after all these years, produced such a clear cut set of rules.

 

[viscount17]

as to Davies, I think I read that he was aware of it but 'must have swung on a lower path'

 

[madandra]

When the wire on the fence was hit it yielded enough to allow the player to make stronger contact with the ball. Had he swung as to not hit the wire ha wouldn't have been able to get onto the green. I think it was Paul McGinlay or Harrington.

 

[freddielong]

When the wire on the fence was hit it yielded enough to allow the player to make stronger contact with the ball. Had he swung as to not hit the wire ha wouldn't have been able to get onto the green. I think it was Paul McGinlay or Harrington.

I think this is ok as long as it was moved during the stroke, otherwise he was improving his position

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Great to see integrity upheld by Davis calling it immediately and not playing on and then waiting for the inevitable later. It was a sad finish as he did great to birdie the last to force the playoff especially as the ball looked to have died on the lip.