Rule 18.

[Dave3498]

Many years ago when the basic rules of golf were being formed, it made sense to introduce a rule that would penalise a player nudging the ball into a better lie at address, thereby gaining an unfair advantage. I don't suppose for one moment that the early rule makers intended it to apply to a situation where a ball may be lifted, cleaned and replaced, or that it should apply to a situation where no possible advantage could accrue.

In view of the recent US Open debacle, I think that those officials involved had lost sight of the purpose of the rule - the gaining of an unfair advantage. It is surely time to have rethink on rule 18 and devide it into situations 'on the green' and 'through the green'. Johnson could not possibly have obtained an advantage from his new ball position after it moved.

 

[Foxholer]

The problem for Rule-makers is 'where do you draw the line?'! It seems quite reasonable as it is now - even if the application of this particular incident was cumbersome!

Btw. The concept of lift, clean and replace - or at least a 'free lift' - was in the original rules - as Rule 13!

 

[duncan mackie]

Many years ago when the basic rules of golf were being formed, it made sense to introduce a rule that would penalise a player nudging the ball into a better lie at address, thereby gaining an unfair advantage. I don't suppose for one moment that the early rule makers intended it to apply to a situation where a ball may be lifted, cleaned and replaced, or that it should apply to a situation where no possible advantage could accrue.

In view of the recent US Open debacle, I think that those officials involved had lost sight of the purpose of the rule - the gaining of an unfair advantage. It is surely time to have rethink on rule 18 and devide it into situations 'on the green' and 'through the green'. Johnson could not possibly have obtained an advantage from his new ball position after it moved.

No, the penalty applied to Johnson was for a technical breach not gaining an unfair advantage.
Generally gaining an unfair advantage will get you a DQ not penalty strokes.

The only debacle I saw at the US Open was a load of professional commentators who took 32 minutes to clock the potential rule, and even then we're unable to locate the specific rulings that covered the issue very clearly - yet they went on and on and on about the time it had taken the TD to follow the rules, and procedures, as laid out.

 

[Dave3498]

The problem for Rule-makers is 'where do you draw the line?'! It seems quite reasonable as it is now - even if the application of this particular incident was cumbersome!

Btw. The concept of lift, clean and replace - or at least a 'free lift' - was in the original rules - as Rule 13!

Yes I know about clean and place. WhatI am questioning is whether the rule 18 should apply, as it is, on the green.

 

[Foxholer]

Yes I know about clean and place. WhatI am questioning is whether the rule 18 should apply, as it is, on the green.

What difference does it make whether the ball is on the green or not?

 

[pogle]

What I'm hoping for out of this particular incident is that the USGA get over themselves about the at times, comical, course conditions they insist on for the US Open. While they insist on having very undulating greens like glass then incidents like this one will keep happening.

I don't expect this will happen.

 

[JezzE]

Johnson did far less to potentially move the ball than Harrington did in the Masters incident a few years ago that was one of the major catalysts for the Rules change. If Johnson really could be adjudged to have moved the ball, then the whole Rules revision is rendered completely pointless and ungovernable

 

[Face breaker]

Personally I think the rules of golf are far to many and far to complicated especially as far as beginners are concerned !...