Haotong Li penalty

Thers's several rules that are different if your ball is on the green

Sure is. Still don’t get what the quality is about though as the player walks away from the supposed alignment and then sets up again on his own.
 
How can the caddie check the players alignment when he hasn't taken his stance yet?

It appears the referee determined that he was in his stance and taking practise swings at the target - the player moved out of the stance and then back in again
His feet went back to the same position so that’s alignment there
 
It appears the referee determined that he was in his stance and taking practise swings at the target - the player moved out of the stance and then back in again
His feet went back to the same position so that’s alignment there


I understand that, but if he did exactly the same on the putting green it wouldn't be a penalty.
 
How can you align your player when he's taking practice swings 12 inches left of the ball and he then backs away and retakes his stance..?

So if caddie confirmed alignment (only offset by 12") that's somehow not aligning the player
 
What does it even matter if he's standing there?? A person is about 18 inches across, so how does him standing behind the player (doing nothing else) help him with the line anyway? Stupid rule.

Bit late to the party I know.

The reasoning behind the new rule is that the ability to line a shot up correctly is seen as a fundamental to golf and a player should perform that act without help.

It is the same reasoning that has brought in the Rule that you are not allowed to lay anything down on the ground to assist you to line up your shot.
 
So if caddie confirmed alignment (only offset by 12") that's somehow not aligning the player
Aligning the player may be the reason behind the change bit the wording of the rule states "when taking his stance to play the shot"
He's not.
The caddy moves, the player steps out to view the line and then "takes his stance for the shot"
It's those words "taking his stance for the shot" that is causing the problem.
 
Alignment is probably imo a bigger issue on putts. It's a fine motor skill compared to a long shot which can be shaped one way or the other.
 
Aligning the player may be the reason behind the change bit the wording of the rule states "when taking his stance to play the shot"
He's not.
The caddy moves, the player steps out to view the line and then "takes his stance for the shot"
It's those words "taking his stance for the shot" that is causing the problem.

That's just pushing the boundaries (too far it seems)
The caddie was in a position to check his alignment to target
 
It's a simple rule not to breach
Don't start swinging the club with your caddie behind you

It's a freakin doddle!

How a professional golfer would think anything else is a mystery
 
That's just pushing the boundaries (too far it seems)
The caddie was in a position to check his alignment to target

Are you happy for players to align their putts with the help of their caddies?

Or let me rephrase: are you happy for this alignment rule to be applied differently depending if the player is on or off the green?
 
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