SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Happened to me today in a match. Not asking whether I should have done what follows - but am I allowed under the rules to do what I did.
My opponent is about 18" from the hole in 5, I am 10ft away in 4. I do not concede the putt, and my opponent marks and picks up his ball. I did not walk closer to check just how close he was.
I hole my putt for a 5; as I walk to the hole to get my ball my opponent walks briskly forward and before I could interject he picks up his marker, and says 'your hole'.
He had a shot on the hole and it was immediately clear to me that he had forgotten. I looked at him and said - you had a shot? Yes - he had forgotten. In matchplay I do not remind opponents on the tee if they have a shot on the hole as some would consider that gamesmanship designed to put pressure on him. So I say nothing,
Before he picked up his marker I was contemplating giving him the putt and was maybe 90:10 that I would when I got up close to it.
As we walk off the green - with me pondering my winning the hole in such a manner and saying to him I was probably going to giver him the putt - he comments to me something like - well you could give me the half if you were going to give me the putt. I hesitated - then decided that I would. And so I gave him the half rather than take the win.
I am sure most will have some thoughts on all aspects of what happened. But just from a rules perspective - am I allowed to do what I did? I am 99% certain that I can...but just wanted to check as I've never in all my years come across the scenario before - certainly never been asked as I was.
My opponent is about 18" from the hole in 5, I am 10ft away in 4. I do not concede the putt, and my opponent marks and picks up his ball. I did not walk closer to check just how close he was.
I hole my putt for a 5; as I walk to the hole to get my ball my opponent walks briskly forward and before I could interject he picks up his marker, and says 'your hole'.
He had a shot on the hole and it was immediately clear to me that he had forgotten. I looked at him and said - you had a shot? Yes - he had forgotten. In matchplay I do not remind opponents on the tee if they have a shot on the hole as some would consider that gamesmanship designed to put pressure on him. So I say nothing,
Before he picked up his marker I was contemplating giving him the putt and was maybe 90:10 that I would when I got up close to it.
As we walk off the green - with me pondering my winning the hole in such a manner and saying to him I was probably going to giver him the putt - he comments to me something like - well you could give me the half if you were going to give me the putt. I hesitated - then decided that I would. And so I gave him the half rather than take the win.
I am sure most will have some thoughts on all aspects of what happened. But just from a rules perspective - am I allowed to do what I did? I am 99% certain that I can...but just wanted to check as I've never in all my years come across the scenario before - certainly never been asked as I was.
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