Woody's "Non-Putt"?

[Divot Tool]

. . .Tiger Woods was Woody's playing partner and he didn't seem to have a problem with the ruling...

Well that's because Tiger was spanking him at the time. Tiger had some more in store and the last thing he wanted Woody to do was have him demolish his putter over his skull and be disqualified (under Rule 4-3 b) for playing with a damaged club.

[powerfade]

Many of you said he slammed his putter down behind the ball...but it was in the direction of the ball. Looks like he stubbed it trying to make a stroke. He then lifted the putter off the ground and made the forward stroke.

[powerfade]

not really sure if anyone has addressed this but...

We all have opinions that are on both sides of the issue. As we all know, the bottom line is Woody has to live with it. If he honestly believes he didn't make the stroke, fine.

[golfchief]

If he said he didn't try to hit the ball in and the officials agreed then let it go, If Tiger did the same you would think what great control of the putter not to hit the ball.

[Kellfire]

I'm sorry but there is absolutely no way that was NOT a stroke.

[fluxcapacitor]

ok, I honestly think he intended to hit the ball. But i'm still learning the rules...If I intend to hit the ball and completely whiff, not even hitting the ground or anything, that counts as a stroke???

I was under the impression that if you unintentionally hit the ball with a practice swing or a double hit (like I do out of the sand or pitching sometimes) counted as a stroke, but not completely missing the ball. Thanks in advance for clafification.

[Norm66]

I think Woody told the truth.

Fluxcapacitor- I believe that if you intend to hit the ball, but whiff, it's still a stroke. When it wouldn't be a stroke is if you accidentally knock your ball off the tee during your setup or waggle. But still, if you take a full swing and mean to hit the ball but don't, it's a stroke. Also, your double hits (I'm pretty sure) are two strokes too. I'm not entirely sure whether it's two strokes or if it's a stroke and penalty for hitting a ball not at rest.

[SubPar]

I would be a big deal if you were in the group tied for 11th Sunday. Of if you were Furyk who finished one spot behind Woody in the FedEx Cup. He clearly stubbed the putter trying to stroke the ball. Since one stroke could be worth tens of thousands of dollars there would be sufficient motivation to just say otherwise when no one can prove it.

Woody's emotional antics have made him somewhat loveable and fun to watch. but this time his emotions got the best of him. I expect Woody's stock among fans to slide next season. SubPar

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

Didn't take long for that to get on youtube. It looks pretty clear to me that he meant to hit the ball. It looks like he took a mini jab at it and stubbed his putter.

Was that his lucky shirt? What's he doing wearing it on Saturday? That was his problem.

[SubPar]

I think Woody told the truth.

If you take a swing with the intention of striking the ball, the stoke counts, even if you never touch the ball. You can abort the attempt on the downswing as Tiger did on Sunday with no stroke counted.

If you accidentally hit the ball, as in a practice stroke, you are penalized 1 stroke for moving the ball and you must replace the ball as near as possible to its original position and play the next shot from there. Davis Love made a big mistake on the green recently and hit the ball with a practice putting stroke. He then played the ball from where it came to rest. By not placing it back in the original spot, he had to be penalized 2 more strokes for playing to next shot from the wrong spot. Accidentally knocking the ball off the tee is not a stoke because the ball is not in play till you take a stroke at it. If you address the ball and it vibrates, or even moves but settles back in its original spot, there is no penalty. SubPar

[fluxcapacitor]

Thanks again for the clarifications...I might have a stroke or 2 to add to my next game now!

[iacas]

If you take a swing with the intention of striking the ball, the stoke counts, even if you never touch the ball. You can abort the attempt on the downswing as Tiger did on Sunday with no stroke counted.

All correct. It's also worth pointing out that you need not stop the clubhead before it reaches the ball. You can adjust mid-swing and swing over the top of the ball or something on purpose if your intent is not to hit the ball.

For people without the strength of Tiger Woods, that's often a better alternative... though most people also don't have the willpower or brain power to think to do this to begin with. Anyway, the rule is all about intent: if you intend to hit it, it's a stroke. If you don't intend to hit it (and don't), it's not a stroke.

[letgodsortemout]

I've stopped once the way Tiger did and it hurt like hell.

[hurley9192]

I feel like the announcers made this such a mountain out of a mole hill issue. I was watching live and thought he slammed down the putter and then stroked it. He didn't miss a beat on his walk and even the best actors couldn't have done that and not hesitated one bit if they indeed whiffed. If he had intent and missed the ball and could keep moving like that then he's one hell of an actor. Tiger has done that before on small putts that he's missed...I think the error was Woody getting too close to the ball when he slammed down his putter.

[pjsnyc]

it was really just one stroke...he just hit it fat
;)

[Crate]

Can someone post a link to a video of this put?

[iacas]

Can someone post a link to a video of this put?

Uh, like the video on page three of this very thread?

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthr...7778&page;=3#20

[Tim S]

1. Yes, a whiff is a stroke.

2. I've seen plenty of pros on short putts tap the putter down then lift it and make a smooth stroke.

3. Woody didn't do that. He was walking at the time. I think it missed it in such a way that he felt (a) "no, I didn't succeed in making the stroke I wanted to make," (b) and I missed enough to get away with it if I make the tap-in look real, (c) "I'll just tap it in and stride away."

The problem is, since his putter grounded and stopped and didn't go past or over the ball, the ruling is all about the golfer's "intention." Only Woody knows what he intended.

IMO I think he was so angry that when he missed he rationalized away his real intention and bought into his "correction" as the true putt. Kind of like OJ.