Grounding club in bunker, what am i missing?

[Dudiefluke]

Just been getting my lockdown golf fix watching Rory win the PGA in 2012 at Kiawah Island on Sky and in the final round 16th hole he sticks his second shot into a greenside bunker, he then takes 2 practice swings catching the sand both times and plonks his ball onto the green and birdies the hole. I rewatched it a couple of times and there is no reaction from commentators so what am i missing?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

It's probably what they call a waste area, not a bunker.
They have loads of them, in the US and Middle East in particular, where there are vast expanses of sand all around the course.

No penalty.

Is the correct answer. I've played a course in S Carolina where the buggy path runs through one.

 

[Dudiefluke]

Thanks, just looked really weird commentators calling it a bunker and his playing partner seemed careful not to ground his club as well. I wish the waste areas i end up in were as well maintained!.

 

[ManinBlack]

There are no bunkers at Kiawah Island. The "bunkers" are classed as waste areas.

 

[mikejohnchapman]

It's probably what they call a waste area, not a bunker.
They have loads of them, in the US and Middle East in particular, where there are vast expanses of sand all around the course.

No penalty.

You might want to ask Dustin Johnson about that as they can be classified as a bunker on occasions.

 

[rulefan]

You might want to ask Dustin Johnson about that as they can be classified as a bunker on occasions.

By Local Rule of course

 

[mikejohnchapman]

His fault for not reading the information.

You are making an assumption - perhaps they should have used pictures.