Practice putting after a hole in a tournament

[chriskzoo]

I swear I remember that you could only hit a practice putt after a completed hole, but in looking for another answer, it looks like there is nothing preventing that in a stroke play tournament, unless explicitly prevented by the Committee:

7-2. During Round A player must not make a practice stroke during play of a hole. Between the play of two holes, a player must not make a practice stroke, except that he may practice putting or chipping on or near: (a) the putting green of the hole last played, (b) any practice putting green, or (c) the teeing ground of the next hole to be played in the round, provided a practice stroke is not made from a hazard and does not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7). Strokes made in continuing the play of a hole, the result of which has been decided, are not practice strokes. Exception: When play has been suspended by the Committee, a player may, prior to resumption of play, practice (a) as provided in this Rule, (b) anywhere other than on the competition course and (c) as otherwise permitted by the Committee.

Am I reading that right?

[iacas]

I swear I remember that you could only hit a practice putt after a completed hole, but in looking for another answer, it looks like there is nothing preventing that in a stroke play tournament, unless explicitly prevented by the Committee:

I'm not sure what you're saying.

You can practice putt (or chip) on greens and tee boxes between the play of holes. You can even visit the practice putting green after nine holes and before you tee off on 10 if you'd like. You can not do this while playing a hole. Unless the committee makes a local rule saying no (like the rule that's in effect at all PGA Tour events).

[SubPar]

There is some confusion about this because the Pro Tours enforce a local rule against it in stroke play events.

In 2001 David Duval was penalized two strokes after taking a practice putt during the first round of the World Cup: "This is a rule of golf that each tour around the world uses in any stroke-play event, so it is nothing new," said Mike Shea, director of rules for the PGA Tour.


Another noteworthy thing to know is the USGA rules allow relief from a plugged ball only in closely mown areas. The PGA Tour allows such relief anywhere through the green, meaning even in the rough.


SubPar

[Shindig]

Worth noting: you'll sometimes see this at a U.S. Open (since those aren't using TOUR rules).

A few years ago at the Ryder Cup, the two captains decided not to explicitly disallow it, but to agree to interpret it as holding up play - always. So they effective disallowed it.

[SubPar]

Worth noting: you'll sometimes see this at a U.S. Open (since those aren't using TOUR rules).

It is a little confusing when the PGA and USGA use slightly different rules. You can't always assume a ruling you witness in a Tour event would apply to our local tournaments, etc.

SubPar

[chriskzoo]

Whoops, I realize I left out that I thought that you could only practice on a hole after completion in MATCH play, but not in stroke play.