Tom Kim's damaged golf ball

rulefan

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There isnā€™t such a differential designation of officials on the PGA Tour wrt rulings. Second opinions are done by the nearest available Rules official.
That was my point. In pro events all referees are equal. The boss would normally be the Tournament Director (or some such) but probably also a fully qualified referee.
In amateur events there may be a significant difference in experience when an inexperienced ref would call on a nearby more experienced ref or the TD could send one by radio. Although technically all referees are equal.
 
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rulie

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That was my point. In pro events all referees are equal. The boss would normally be the Tournament Director (or some such) but probably also a fully qualified referee.
In amateur events there may be a significant difference in experience when an inexperienced ref would call on a nearby more experienced ref or the TD could send one by radio. Although technically all referees are equal.
I understand your point, but the question asked was about a PGA Tour event, where as you said "all referees are equal", meaning that any referee could make the final decision. Not sure why you digressed.
 

rulefan

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I understand your point, but the question asked was about a PGA Tour event, where as you said "all referees are equal", meaning that any referee could make the final decision. Not sure why you digressed.
As someone said earlier, it is a discussion thread.
And in fact the R&A do have a grading system for referees.
 

mikejohnchapman

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I can understand why he asked the rules official as most of the players are scared of trial by television (as the close-up shows). Why it wasn't allowed to be replaced is a surprise to me as a chunk out of the surface constitutes damage (vs a scuff off a cart path etc).

This seems to be a trend now with Matt Fitzpatrick not being allowed to replace a damaged driver head even though all concerned recognised the face had been damaged in normal play.

If they this that's "just a scratch" perhaps the officials have been watching too much Monty Python!
 

rulefan

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This seems to be a trend now with Matt Fitzpatrick not being allowed to replace a damaged driver head even though all concerned recognised the face had been damaged in normal play.
Matt's driver head was not damaged according the words in the Rule. The PGA Tour uses the Local Rule G-9. Why? I don't know.

G-9 Replacing Club That is Broken or Significantly Damaged​

Purpose: Rule 4.1a(2) allows a player to repair or replace a club that is damaged during the round, except in cases of abuse. But a Committee may adopt a Local Rule to restrict replacement of a club to cases where the club is broken or significantly damaged, which does not include a club that is cracked.

ā€œRule 4.1a(2) is modified in this way:

Rule 4.1a(2) applies except that a club that is damaged by the player or their caddie during the round (including while play is stopped under Rule 5.7a) may only be replaced if it is "broken or significantly damaged".

Exception: A club is ā€œbroken or significantly damagedā€ when: The clubhead is visibly and significantly deformed (but not when the clubhead is only cracked)
 
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Imurg

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Purpose: Rule 4.1a(2) allows a player to repair or replace a club that is damaged during the round, except in cases of abuse. But a Committee may adopt a Local Rule to restrict replacement of a club to cases where the club is broken or significantly damaged, which does not include a club that is cracked.

A club is ā€œbroken or significantly damagedā€ when: The clubhead is visibly and significantly deformed (but not when the clubhead is only cracked)
To me, that sounds like a rule devised by people who don't play golf....
 
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