Ernie Els Snaps Club against tree - Good or Bad?

[drdel]

Playing in the PGA Valspar Ernie's ball land close to tree such that its clear that if he plays for the hole he will hit the trunk on his follow through.

Takes the shot and, as commentators predict, snaps his blub in two - luckily the bits do not fly towards the crowd.

Personally I think its daft and he should have played away from the hole with a clear swing path to a good distance from the green and played in.

Breaking twigs etc. can involve a penalty shot, why not a penalty from deliberately hitting trees?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Playing in the PGA Valspar Ernie's ball land close to tree such that its clear that if he plays for the hole he will hit the trunk on his follow through.

Takes the shot and, as commentators predict, snaps his blub in two - luckily the bits do not fly towards the crowd.

Personally I think its daft and he should have played away from the hole with a clear swing path to a good distance from the green and played in.

Breaking twigs etc. can involve a penalty shot, why not a penalty from deliberately hitting trees?

Ridiculous post I'm afraid. He's entitled to play the shot as he sees fit and was well aware of the outcome and he was trying to make a the cut. Granted he made a mockery of the putts but that was irrelevant. Didn't actually see the crowd that close anyway

 

[CMAC]

Playing in the PGA Valspar Ernie's ball land close to tree such that its clear that if he plays for the hole he will hit the trunk on his follow through.

Takes the shot and, as commentators predict, snaps his blub in two - luckily the bits do not fly towards the crowd.

Personally I think its daft and he should have played away from the hole with a clear swing path to a good distance from the green and played in.

Breaking twigs etc. can involve a penalty shot, why not a penalty from deliberately hitting trees?

3rd choice in your thread title should be "Who cares?"

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Sorry I can't see what the issue is?

He took a risk and it came off ?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Can't see how you can implement a penalty when he didn't break any of the rules

 

[tsped83]

It appears that the OP has been summarily shot down! That said, I have to agree with the comments above. He's entitled to have a crack at the shot however he sees fit.

 

[Region3]

If he'd have hit the tree and it fell down on a practice swing he would have been awarded penalty shots. :thup:

 

[Ethan]

It helps if you have a Tour van with fitters who can replace the shaft for you after the round.

 

[Green Bay Hacker]

Surprised no one has asked the obvious question yet - was it a tree iron?

 

[snell]

When there's thousands of dollars on the line, what's a snapped club...?!?! Not like they pay for them anyway!!

 

[Odvan]

It was a great shot!

 

[CMAC]

[video]https://youtu.be/N1pyViodqpg[/video]

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The more surprising thing is that he was prepared to risk damaging his wrists. That shot could easily have sprained a wrist and that would have put him out of this tournament and others. Not worth that for one shot. No issue with breaking the club. That's his decision and he is the one who loses the use of the club for the rest of the round.

 

[Merv_swerve]

Good? Bad?
Neither.
It was a well executed golf shot.

 

[Khamelion]

IF that was me or anyone else in the forum, the shot would be to hit out sideways, play the percentages, etc... as was written above, we do not have the privilege of having a tour van to go to after the round to get a new iron made up.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

[video]https://youtu.be/N1pyViodqpg[/video]

After watching that clip he would have been better chipping it back on rather than hitting it into rough with a chip over the bunker.

As for breaking his club he isn't bothered as by the time he got back the guys on the tour van would have already made him another one up.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Should in no way be banned but this needs explaining to younger golfers that it's only acceptable if what's riding on it is whether the cost of repair or injury risk.

It's up to the commentators, parents and teaching pros to explain it.

 

[Foxholer]

[video]https://youtu.be/N1pyViodqpg[/video]

Actually, it looks like the club was broken before it hit the tree! And as it was damaged through a 'normal' shot, it can be replaced during the round - as long as there's no undue delay.

Pretty good shot imo. And no way should he have been penalised, even if it was damaged by the tree!

 

[ScienceBoy]

Actually, it looks like the club was broken before it hit the tree! And as it was damaged through a 'normal' shot, it can be replaced during the round - as long as there's no undue delay.

Pretty good shot imo. And no way should he have been penalised, even if it was damaged by the tree!

Ernie... Your doing it wrong...

 

[CMAC]

Actually, it looks like the club was broken before it hit the tree! And as it was damaged through a 'normal' shot, it can be replaced during the round - as long as there's no undue delay.

Pretty good shot imo. And no way should he have been penalised, even if it was damaged by the tree!

was he penalised?