Kenny Perry: Caught Cheating or Not?

***iacas*** · May 18, 2009

Watch this video. It's from the FBR playoff.

Better (Bigger) YouTube Version: click here.

From this article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009...fbr-open-rules

Source: Lawrence Donegan
Kenny Perry has been exonerated of any wrongdoing following suggestions that the American may have infringed the rules during his play-off victory at the FBR Open in February. The 48-year-old, who narrowly missed out on becoming the oldest major winner in history at last month's Masters, met with tour officials yesterday, during the Players Championship here, to review television footage which showed him placing the head of a club in the rough behind his ball, after which the ball seemingly became more visible.

Rule 13–2 of the Rules of Golf states that a player is not allowed to improve "the position or lie of his ball". Mark Russell, a senior rules official with the PGA Tour, said he had "no problem whatsoever" with Perry's actions, adding that the footage was "inconclusive".

"During the course of the telecast of the FBR Open‚ we received no calls from viewers reporting a potential rules violation involving Kenny Perry. When a question was raised this week, several members of the tournament committee reviewed the videotape of Kenny Perry, and no evidence of any rules violation was found ... We will have no further comment on the matter,'' he said.

Of course, the TV audience was nearly zero by the time Kenny did that since the Super Bowl had begun.

But then John Huggan says this: http://sport.scotsman.com/golf/-John...39s.5274829.jp

Source: John Huggan
Even the man beaten in the play-off, Charley Hoffman, wanted nothing to do with pointing out the obvious. "I have no problem with that," he gasped. "We all do it."

If what Hoffman claims is true, not only does golf at the highest level have a serious problem, but some education in the area of what does and does not constitute "improving one's lie" is badly needed.

What do you guys think? Because I think I like Kenny Perry a teeny bit less now and agree with John Huggan's testament to the possibility of a "serious problem." Did Hoffman see the tape (most players aren't paying a ton of attention to their opponents during play)? Kenny seemed to go well beyond grounding his club behind the ball, which I'd have no problem with at all.

I'm still mulling over my vote.

**georgep** · May 18, 2009

I've always liked Kenny. But if that's not improving your lie, what is?

**Fat Slice** · May 18, 2009

It looks bad...but that's from the one angle they show. From watching tons of sports replays I can tell you that something will look 100% legal or illegal and then you see another (more conclusive) angle and it looks 180 degrees different. So, I'd have to say - inconclusive.

**mcfc_nick** · May 18, 2009

if that aint improving your lie then i dont know what is! we all know that shot would have been more difficult without him flattening the grass so in my eyes thats cheating!

**RocketSauce** · May 18, 2009

from that angle it looks like he improved his lie

**PuterPutter** · May 18, 2009

Is he allowed to ground his club? If he is, then how many times is he allowed to ground his club?

However, it does look as if he is tapping down the grass behind his ball. Then again maybe he was further behind the ball than the camera shows and he was testing the lie.

Interesting video. Did he do anything wrong? Not according to the the officials and they have the final say.

***iacas*** · May 18, 2009

Is he allowed to ground his club? If he is, then how many times is he allowed to ground his club?

Yes, of course, but he's not allowed to "improve his lie."

Look up Gary Player taking out a fairway wood, tamping down the grass behind his ball in the rough, and then "deciding" to switch to an iron once the back of the ball had been exposed due to the tamped down grass. Tom Watson finally said something like "Gary, we're gettin' sick of this shit" to him in a Skins game or something. There's a difference between grounding your club and improving your lie (which I assume you know, and you're just playing devil's advocate a little).

However, it does look as if he is tapping down the grass behind his ball. Then again maybe he was further behind the ball than the camera shows and he was testing the lie.

Right, but who does that within a few inches behind the ball? It's not like he's doing it even a full foot behind the ball, and I'd bet a lot of money it wasn't even four inches. If you're gonna do that, don't you do it BESIDE the ball or well behind it?

Did he do anything wrong? Not according to the the officials and they have the final say.

Sure, but that doesn't mean they couldn't have gotten it wrong (perhaps to save face, since the tournament was over for awhile before this topic was brought up again).

**walk18** · May 18, 2009

He should be given a life sentence in prison at the minimum. This whole business of people touching grass with their clubs must stop immediately. It is ruining the game.

**egehoski** · May 18, 2009

Voted inconclusive. See it happen a lot. Not saying it's right or wrong. Looked like he was just "testing" the situation. It definitely tamped down some grass, but did it improve his lie....I don't know? Ball didn't appear to move or anything, not that that was the issue. Inconclusive. That's my position.

**DBake** · May 18, 2009

Voted No, I will keep that opinion until it is called on someone at an event.

**MiniMoe** · May 18, 2009

guys on tour have been doing this for years. It's almost the "legal" way to cheat. Most of the other guys are a little better at hiding it. I have seen it even in the thickest of roughs.

**golf_junkie27** · May 18, 2009

I voted "yes." Justice has been served, though, losing at the Masters in a playoff. The golf gods don't like cheaters.

**zeg** · May 18, 2009

I think it's inconclusive. At first, it looked really egregious, but after watching a few times, I agree that it's hard to tell how close to the ball he was. From the way he tamped and then brushed the grass further away in a half practice swing, it looks to me like he may have just been getting a sense for the texture of the grass. The shot they cut to just at the end doesn't seem to show much tamping right near the ball, either. All things considered, I call it inconclusive.

**Voiceontapex** · May 18, 2009

Im guilty of doing that ill be honest, but im no pro, and i never will be lol

and I think that may be another reason why ppl are indecisive about this, im sure, im not going to say all because there are some of you out there that play things to the book, but im sure most of us have tapped down the grass here and there and not justify that as improving lie, but picking the ball up and moving it is.

If i play with a group of people we make it known what we think is ok, tapping down grass, ok, moving your ball a little bit to position it on a piece of grass to act like a "tee" almost, not ok ive seen alot of ppl i play with try to do that and ill walk over and put it back where it was lol

**PiustheDrGolf** · May 18, 2009

Test or Checking the rough should be done elsewhere.

That video caught surely K.P. had pushed down right behind the ball to improve his lie. No wonder he has played better these days.

**Big_M** · May 18, 2009

It looked like he cheated, but w/o another angle I'm unwilling to cast that vote... Also, it may have even been an inadvertent violation, he may have a habbit of grounding a few times behind the ball and waggling around... Only one who can answer the question is him, but I can assure you, next time I watch him on TV I'll be watching his pre-shot routine and his actions.

**Shorty** · May 18, 2009

He should be given a life sentence in prison at the minimum. This whole business of people touching grass with their clubs must stop immediately. It is ruining the game.

What is the reason for this flippant comment?

Cheating certainly does ruin the game - and from what I have read on this forum, there are a lot of players here who (amazingly all play to "about 12") who have no understanding at all of the basic rules of golf. You are clearly one of them and your comment proves it. The OP was about a breach of rules, not about someone touching grass with a golf club. In case you didn't know, there are rules to this game, and this is pretty clearly a breach of them. This kind of makes a mockery of the notion that players are always willing to call penalties upon themselves. Methinks it is often because the TV coverage will expose them anyway.

**Danattherock** · May 18, 2009

Am I the only one that read this in the OP...

"Mark Russell, a senior rules official with the PGA Tour, said he had "no problem whatsoever" with Perry's actions"

Does this mean nothing?

Dang Monday morning quarterbacks

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