Brian Davis

[RemyM]

OK, can someone tell me if he was playing the shot? Or just taking a practice swing? I only saw one replay of his club touching the twig/thing but not if he continued to play the ball..... Because if he was PLAYING the ball I can't see how it's a penalty?

He was playing the shot, it was a penalty because he hit the stick on the back swing.

[mtsalmela80]

The rule screwed him. There was no malicious intent to improve his lie, or swing path clearance, etc... This is perhaps the purest example of a good rule gone bad, right up there with accidentally grounding your club in water when hitting from a hazard.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I wouldnt have even noticed that i swiped a reed if i where in that situation. i would have been too focused on just trying to get the ball on the green.

[Cussin hacker]

I wouldnt have even noticed that i swiped a reed if i where in that situation. i would have been too focused on just trying to get the ball on the green.

I was thinking the same thing. He may have felt it more than seen it.

[ssrs8]

Gotta give Davis his dues for the honesty. But was anyone else thinking drop it 100 yards out and wedge it in close for a chance? The lie was obviously tricky and he short-sided it.

Also I thought it was interesting how easily Furyk made that final putt when all the pressure was off.

[mcfc_nick]

Gotta give Davis his dues for the honesty. But was anyone else thinking drop it 100 yards out and wedge it in close for a chance? The lie was obviously tricky and he short-sided it.

he could have dropped it about 5 yards off the green

[USA 79S]

Yeah I think Scooter or whatever the judges name is was standing at the drop point, just off the green, who knows, could have holed it and threw Jimmy a nice wink

As said by others though - Amazing display of sincere love and respect for the game. props to you B.D.

[killerduck]

He was playing the shot, it was a penalty because he hit the stick on the back swing.

So the action of making a "stroke" is in the down-swing only?

[Chilli Dipper]

So the action of making a "stroke" is in the down-swing only?

That's correct. To quote from the

USGA Rules of Golf, Section II:

Stroke A "stroke" is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke.

[Fourputt]

Gotta give Davis his dues for the honesty. But was anyone else thinking drop it 100 yards out and wedge it in close for a chance? The lie was obviously tricky and he short-sided it.

From where the hole was and where the ball last crossed onto the hazard, there was no place "100 yards out" on that line where he could have dropped. That would have put him in the hazard. His only relief options were to drop within 2 clublengths of where the ball crossed in, or return to the original place and play again.