I could have swore I just saw Ricky Barnes ground his club in the bunker on 14..

[cougar978]

If they show a replay of him hitting the lip of that fairway bunker and the ball rolling back in, he switches clubs and his caddy gives him a LW - when he starts his backswing on his second bunker shot, it looked like some sand was disturbed. Whatever he makes on 14, he should add two strokes.

[SpoiledRotten]

Still learning some of the terminology and rules of the game. What did he do wrong by "grounding his club"? I thought sand was always disturbed in the bunker.
Thanks in advance, for explaining.

[senorchipotle]

Still learning some of the terminology and rules of the game. What did he do wrong by "grounding his club"? I thought sand was always disturbed in the bunker.

in a bunker or in water, you cannot ground your club anytime before the shot.

[Shindig]

Still learning some of the terminology and rules of the game. What did he do wrong by "grounding his club"? I thought sand was always disturbed in the bunker.

Grounding your club means just that - the club touches the ground before your forward-swing. In the fairway or on the tee, this is fine (and a common, legal practice). In a hazard, such as a bunker or if you're hitting out of water, you cannot do this without a penalty.

[Zeph]

Water? You can hit out of water on a fairway and ground the club.

Grounding the club is not allowed in bunkers, water hazards and lateral water hazards.

[sean_miller]

Water? You can hit out of water on a fairway and ground the club.

But you wouldn't, because it would be casual water and you'd take relief and drop it. Yeah, he could have added the word "hazard".

[CG031]

I didn't see this. I'll check it out if they show highlight.s.

[SpoiledRotten]

Thanks for the explanation, guys!

[Shindig]

But you wouldn't, because it would be casual water and you'd take relief and drop it. Yeah, he could have added the word "hazard".

Thank you. Yes, I should have said hazard.

[iacas]

Just saw it. Not even close to grounding his club, nope.

[MSchumacher]

Even if he did I think its ok as long as its part of his swing. Loose impediment

Correct me if I'm wrong here

[Zeph]

Even if he did I think its ok as long as its part of his swing. Loose impediment

Downswing, yes. Backswing, no.

Touching the sand, ground or loose impediments on the backswing inside a bunker or hazard is a penalty. Touching it on the downswing is not. You can touch grass, plants, trees and other growing, rooted objects, but not loose impediments like pine cones, leaves, branches.

[Shorty]

Just saw it. Not even close to grounding his club, nope.

No, and I really think people should think twice when starting a libelous thread like this. Someone could read part of it and assume it actually happened. The OP shouldn't say "whataver he scored he should add 2" - that grates more than the tense challenged "could have swore" in the title. Nowhere in the OP does he say "I am probably wrong but....". He makes the accusation - which is a figment of his imagination - happily casting aspersions on a player's character, which is not really good form, is it?

[cougar978]

No, and I really think people should think twice when starting a libelous thread like this. Someone could read part of it and assume it actually happened. The OP shouldn't say "whataver he scored he should add 2" - that grates more than the tense challenged "could have swore" in the title. Nowhere in the OP does he say "I am probably wrong but....". He makes the accusation - which is a figment of his imagination - happily casting aspersions on a player's character, which is not really good form, is it?

This morning, I saw what I thought was him touching sand during his address on his second bunker shot. I don't have HDTV in my office, so I may not have had the best picture, but I just commented on what I saw. Perhaps I was wrong, as iacas stated.