Tiger May Play Phoenix Event to Kick Off 2015

[Zeph]

Is the reason behind it being questioned? It seems pretty straightforward to me. They don't want fans being injured.

Quote:

"With the set-up now at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, there are multiple levels of grandstands at the 16th that are a potential hazard for someone reaching over the railing for a thrown item if they were to fall, " Schuchmann wrote. "That is in addition to the potential for someone to be crushed by a surge of people trying to catch an item. I would liken this to the NFL prohibiting footballs being thrown into the stands for similar reasons."

We might suggest that the adult beverages the frat boys imbibe all day as they wait for their chances to cheer and jeer the best players in the world are more likely to lead to injury than the tossing of t-shirts at spectators, but the selling of beer has yet to make it to the restricted list.

In any case, there may be a bit of wink wink nudge nudge going on as far as tourney officials actually imposing the sanction. Nowhere in the advisory does it state, for example, that players and caddies may not give items directly to the patrons — though such hand-to-hand contact could be hazardous to a golfer’s health.

"If a player is going by handing them out or flipping them to someone in the first row, that's fine," the tour’s chief of operations Andy Pazder told the Associated Press. "But not going by throwing things like a Frisbee."

Quote:

"At this year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, for fan safety reasons," read the notice tacked up in the locker room at Waialae, site of this week's Sony Open, "players and caddies are prohibited from throwing, kicking or otherwise propelling items into the crowd on the 16th hole."

[colin007]

I say line the bleachers with native Arizona cacti. That way, if some drunk ass clown falls over the edge, he doesn't die but he'll learn a lesson.

[Zeph]

A part of it might also be the PGA Tour protecting itself from lawsuits, should something happen.

[cipher]

I say line the bleachers with native Arizona cacti. That way, if some drunk ass clown falls over the edge, he doesn't die but he'll learn a lesson.

Now that would be fun to watch.

[iacas]

Yes I hate slippery slope arguments. I also hate the dentist, but I agree he is useful from time to time.  And it wasn't a long slippery slope argument. The bulk of my argument is that this change is an ineffectual safeguard against a non-problem.  Has anyone here on the forum ever heard of any actual person getting seriously injured during a free hat free-for-all?

https://www.google.com/search?q=fan+injured+falling+over+railing+in+stands

You don't have any more idea than I do about what the Tour's real concern is. But, if you are willing to accept that it could be pace of play or player/caddy complaints, then you must also accept that the Tour might be trying to normalize the 16th through incremental changes.

To the first, you don't know that. :)

To the second… I'm simply pointing out that you said you hate slippery slope arguments, but then proceeded to make almost nothing but one.

(BTW I don't know either, and I'm not even sure if I believe my own BS.  But Erik is the self-proclaimed logical wizard, so I get a little kick out of pointing out when your logic undercuts the conclusions of your own argument.)

Wrong on a few levels, but hey, whatever man… Enjoy the tournament.