Calc -putting violation?

[Baynative]

Pods Championship Sunday -

On the 12th hole today, Calcaveccia missed a putt and after holing out he dropped his ball and took a practice putt. I thought you couldn't do that in stroke play.

[NM Golf]

Rule 7.2

Since he had already finished the hole and since he was in the last group and was not holding up play he can hit a practice putt.

[Fisherdude]

Unless the Committee has made forbidding practice putting a Condition of the Competition, which is usually the case in a formal event.

I was watching, and it wasn't clear if he actually hit the ball.

[iacas]

Unless the Committee has made forbidding practice putting a Condition of the Competition, which is usually the case in a formal event.

The PGA Tour has a standing rule that you can't practice putt during a round. It applies to everyone - it doesn't matter if you're the last group or not.

[Baynative]

The PGA Tour has a standing rule that you can't practice putt during a round. It applies to everyone - it doesn't matter if you're the last group or not.

So, is the PGA rule supposed to supercede rule 7.2 (above)? I am not an armchair official and I despise those who call in tiny and obscure infractions that they saw- especially if they alter a tournament - like C. Stadler kneeling on a towel. But taking a practice putt, last group or not, seemed a bit out of line.

[iacas]

So, is the PGA rule supposed to supercede rule 7.2 (above)? I am not an armchair official and I despise those who call in tiny and obscure infractions that they saw- especially if they alter a tournament - like C. Stadler kneeling on a towel. But taking a practice putt, last group or not, seemed a bit out of line.

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/index.html Note 2 on rule 7-2 says:

Note 2: The Committee may, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), prohibit:

[jorgesgolf]

So...did Calc commit an infraction or not? I didn't actually see the supposed putt, but what's the consensus here? And did anyone ever say anything?

[Q.Q.Quillume]

My theory is there was no violation except possibly in a TV viewer's imagination. Calcavecchia has the trophy and the $$$. Case closed.

[Baynative]

So...did Calc commit an infraction or not? I didn't actually see the supposed putt, but what's the consensus here? And did anyone ever say anything?

Nope - a player can both chip and putt for practice around the green during tournament play.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

Well, I think this has been answered by other posts but just in case, no there was no infraction. He is allowed to practice his putting and he was in the last group so it was okay. Now, if some of the earlier players did that with groups waiting behind them I'm pretty sure they would have been warned to not do it.

[iacas]

Well, I think this has been answered by other posts but just in case, no there was no infraction. He is allowed to practice his putting and he was in the last group so it was okay. Now, if some of the earlier players did that with groups waiting behind them I'm pretty sure they would have been warned to not do it.

No, that's incorrect. He's not allowed to practice his putting in the middle of a round on the PGA Tour.

He probably didn't actually hit the ball, and thus, there would be no infraction.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

No, that's incorrect. He's not allowed to practice his putting in the middle of a round on the PGA Tour.

Are you sure??? I watch a lot of golf (more than I care to admit) and I have seen players practice on the green after they have played a hole. I thought it had to do with the tournament rules and where they were on the course (the last group isn't holding anyone up).

[jorgesgolf]

You may be referring to match play, where players are allowed to take practice putts after finishing a hole. In stroke play, it is a no-no.

[iacas]

Are you sure??? I watch a lot of golf (more than I care to admit) and I have seen players practice on the green after they have played a hole. I thought it had to do with the tournament rules and where they were on the course (the last group isn't holding anyone up).

You must not watch the PGA, LPGA, or Champions Tour. They don't putt after they play a hole. It's a standing condition of competition, as I noted above.

By rule - and without the condition of competition that says you can't - you can practice in stroke OR match play unless there's a rule against it. In match play, you're explicitly allowed to have a putt at a conceded putt (which is great when you keep leaving yourself 3-footers and your opponent keeps conceding). Please just look up the rules. They're 7-1 and 7-2, and you probably don't even need to look up 7-1.

A player must not make a practice stroke during play of a hole.

That's the rule. Again, the condition of competition allows the committee to say "no practice putting" and that's a standing rule on all the major tours.

[Fisherdude]

Guys, Erik and I have answered this question, but I think I understand where the points of confusion are coming from. Yes, practice putting is clearly allowed under the Rules in stroke play. However, as has been stated, almost all tournaments, and ALL professional events, have Conditions of the Competition that the Committee (whoever is putting on the competition, and runs it) almost always has in place. A standard Condition of the Competition is one prohibiting any kind of practice between the play of holes.

The answer to your confusion doesn't appear completely in Rule 7 (Practice) Notes 1 & 2, it appears in Rule 33 (The Committee), and specifically in Appendix 1C (Conditions of the Competition):

Appendix 1C, Section 6. Practice

a. General
The Committee may make regulations governing practice in accordance with the Note to Rule 7-1, Exception (c) to Rule 7-2, Note 2 to Rule 7 and Rule 33-2c.

b. Practice Between Holes (Note 2 to Rule 7)
It is recommended that a condition of competition prohibiting practice putting or chipping on or near the putting green of the hole last played be introduced only in stroke-play competitions. The following wording is recommended:

“A player must not play any practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole last played. If a practice stroke is played on or near the putting green of the hole last played, the player shall incur a penalty of two strokes at the next hole, except that in the case of the last hole of the round, he incurs the penalty at that hole.”

Hope this clears things up.

Again, I saw Calc drop a ball and make a putting motion, but I did not see him strike the ball. It's inconceivable that he would have made that mistake, and highly unlikely he wouldn't have been called on it if he had.