No Penalty for Rose

[Slab]

In the same vein as Lowry discussion re pen/no pen that got lots of publicity, this one didn’t, has R&A said anything/commented?

Justin Rose ball search on Par 3 16th in 3rd round on Saturday
On site ref said ‘just in time’ when it was found, much to the surprise of the commentators who had also timed the search & figured it to be clearly outside the 3 minutes but didn’t make anything more of it once word of ref decision came through

Obviously ref decision stands and no debate after that by player/R&A etc but this is a golf forum so we can talk about it

This was feature group coverage so I watched it all live and uninterrupted but I didn’t time it (cos I’m half way normal) but it did feel long
About a dozen searchers some of who started looking as soon as players left the tee , no problem because they don’t count in the 3 minute limit
Commentator started his clock when player (or caddie) got down the slope & looking

A ball was found well after the commentator called time by his tracker (more than 10 seconds) so just wondering if ref discusses it with 'head ref' post round?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

In the same vein as Lowry discussion re pen/no pen that got lots of publicity, this one didn’t, has R&A said anything/commented?

Justin Rose ball search on Par 3 16th in 3rd round on Saturday
On site ref said ‘just in time’ when it was found, much to the surprise of the commentators who had also timed the search & figured it to be clearly outside the 3 minutes but didn’t make anything more of it once word of ref decision came through

Obviously ref decision stands and no debate after that by player/R&A etc but this is a golf forum so we can talk about it

This was feature group coverage so I watched it all live and uninterrupted but I didn’t time it (cos I’m half way normal) but it did feel long
About a dozen searchers some of who started looking as soon as players left the tee , no problem because they don’t count in the 3 minute limit
Commentator started his clock when player (or caddie) got down the slope & looking

A ball was found well after the commentator called time by his tracker (more than 10 seconds) so just wondering if ref discusses it with 'head ref' post round?

All depends on when the ref starts timing the search

The commentators may have started the “clock” earlier than the on course referee

 

[Slab]

All depends on when the ref starts timing the search

The commentators may have started the “clock” earlier than the on course referee

Yeah can only assume that's what happened. although the option that commentator started timing before player/caddie started looking does seem a tad unlikely since they knew the rule etc

 

[Deleted member 35927]

Nothing to comment on as far as I can see, ref said ball found in time which is what matters. That someone else was keeping unofficial time doesn't really matter.

 

[Swango1980]

It is rare that a player ever needs to search for his ball, as the crowd and ball spotters normally find it long before they get on the scene.

Is there even an official process from referees to time players on the rare occasion they do have to look? Or is it done like we do it at our own clubs, where it is all in the head. Some people's 3 minutes lasts less than 2 minutes, whilst many others 3 minutes actually lasts closer to 5 or 6 minutes. If there are no referees with every group, could the ball spotters be used as timers on the rare event a player needs to search? I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to wear a stop watch.

At any rate, hard to comment on this incident, as I've no idea how reliable the time keeping of the commentator was.

 

[doublebogey7]

When refereeing at county level, I will ensure that I am completly satisfied that the search has started before informing the player that I have started the clock. I haven't seen the footish of the incident in question, but I suspect the referee here did the same and gave the player a little additional time as a result.

 

[Colin L]

It is rare that a player ever needs to search for his ball, as the crowd and ball spotters normally find it long before they get on the scene.

Is there even an official process from referees to time players on the rare occasion they do have to look? Or is it done like we do it at our own clubs, where it is all in the head. Some people's 3 minutes lasts less than 2 minutes, whilst many others 3 minutes actually lasts closer to 5 or 6 minutes. If there are no referees with every group, could the ball spotters be used as timers on the rare event a player needs to search? I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to wear a stop watch.

At any rate, hard to comment on this incident, as I've no idea how reliable the time keeping of the commentator was.

They will no doubt carry a stopwatch. The rules are as specific as they can be as to when a search starts but it is sometimes difficult to know when to start the timing if you are uncertain, for instance, whether the first player who arrives on the scene is the owner of the missing ball.

 

[woofers]

Or is it done like we do it at our own clubs, where it is all in the head. Some people's 3 minutes lasts less than 2 minutes, whilst many others 3 minutes actually lasts closer to 5 or 6 minutes.

Or use the stop watch function on a smartphone.

 

[nickjdavis]

Or use the stop watch function on a smartphone.

by the time I've fumbled in my bag for my phone, turned it on, found the clock app and figured out how to start the stopwatch, it is likely that 3 minutes will already have elapsed.