True integrity

[muttleee]

I was flicking through an old GM the other day and saw an interesting piece in the 'Know the Rules' section. Apparently at Q-School in 2008, JP Hayes received a 2-shot penalty on one hole for playing a different ball than the one he'd declared at the beginning of the round. He was still looking good to progress to the last stage of the School, so all was not lost. However, later that evening after he'd completed his round, he realised that he'd actually been playing a prototype ball that was not on the official list of conforming balls. He reported the issue to the tournament referees and was duly disqualified, thereby losing any chance of regaining his tour card for 2009. I know we like to think that golf is a game of integrity but I wonder how many other pros would have done the same in a similar situation?? It's one thing to be DQed from a tournament but quite another to lose your card for the year. Similarly, I wonder how many amateurs would DQ themselves if they found a similar mistake after apparently "winning" the club championship?

As this article says though, at least JP can sleep at night.

 

[bigbazzaboy]

Its something that golf has over most sports. Most professionals would rather call a penalty on themselves and know if they win its fair and square.

With there being so much tv coverage these days as well it means if they break the rules theres a good chance itll get seen by someone. Although theres a couple of recent ones that probably wouldnt have been picked up, Poulter calling a penalty for dropping a ball on his marker and Brian Davis calling the tournament-costing penalty for brushing a twig on his backswing.

 

[brendy]

I think Clarkeys moment a few years ago is in a similar vein, play suspended and his ball wsa in the rough, came out the next day and his ball was sat in a perfect lie on the now beaten down rough. He called it and played the shot how he would have (short of the green with an improvised hack out) and is right up there with Arthur Guinness in my estimation.

 

[Mick47]

I like to think I'd have done the same but if I'm totally honest -with a tour card at stake- I'd have kept stum. Am I a rearly bad person?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I guess the question must be why risk playing a prototype ball in such a high profile event to start with. However I have to admire the guy enormously for doing what he did