PGA Tour Players Not Marking Balls when In Position to Assist Another Player, #Backstopping

[Vinsk]

6 hours ago, DeadMan said:

This is really not a good look, on many levels:

 

Didn’t realize Jimmy was a bit of a dope. It apprears he isn’t clear on the rule. I think he sees this as a just golf etiquette.

[Hardspoon]

Maybe a player openly admitting to cheating will turn things around...but I doubt it.

Someone needs to keep track of the guys who are “disliked” enough that other players always mark for them.

[iacas]

Wow. Jimmy Walker super ignorant on two fronts there. Ouch.

[Shindig]

Yikes, yeah, just saw that on TV.  That's a special kind of awful if they're doing it on purpose. 

[Vinsk]

So Jimmy....some guys place their ball back exactly where it was...others move it to the side a little bit (Lexi)...to each his own, right?

Edited June 10, 2018 by Vinsk

[iacas]

45 minutes ago, Shindig said:

Yikes, yeah, just saw that on TV.  That's a special kind of awful if they're doing it on purpose. 

What was on TV?

[Shindig]

39 minutes ago, iacas said:

What was on TV?

Whatever TV show was on The Golf Channel when I posted it was talking about Jimmy Walker's tweet on the topic, more or less admitting that breaking this rule deliberately is common.

[DeadMan]

I think this is a link to what you're talking about: 

 

[Vinsk]

https://apple.news/A5MEVdMhtN5GTAxs_qoKKMQ

Jimmy’s an idiot. Sorry. 

[Hardspoon]

5 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

Jimmy’s an idiot. Sorry. 

Based on how common it is, I bet he's in the majority among Tour players.

For those who watch/coach youth amateur golf (@iacas?), does backstopping happen there?  If so, it's not going away, as the next generation learns (like slow play) that it's another thing they should do because the pros do.

[Vinsk]

52 minutes ago, Hardspoon said:

Based on how common it is, I bet he's in the majority among Tour players.

For those who watch/coach youth amateur golf (@iacas?), does backstopping happen there?  If so, it's not going away, as the next generation learns (like slow play) that it's another thing they should do because the pros do.

I’m not sure if he’s in the majority as far as not knowing it’s a rule. But yeah he definitely plays the game. Problem is he inadvertently called everyone out. The rule says ‘for the purpose of assisting another player’ which Jimmy clearly stated is the intent.

[Shorty]

Jimmy Walker is a jerk. And a cheat. Michael Clayton is one of the best golf course designers anywhere - he is redesigning Ben Hogan's Shady Oaks. He is a prodigiously keen student of the game and was a great player himself.

Edited June 10, 2018 by Shorty

[Hardspoon]

I think the first thing the USGA should do is strengthen the rule a bit, specifically in light of the unspoken agreement that has spread through the Tour.  The way the Rule (and Decisions 22/6 and 22/7) is written, while expressly prohibiting players from "agreeing" not to lift a ball, leaves some wiggle room for unspoken tradition.  Even though it's clearly against the spirit of the rule, I think this wiggle room is making it harder to enforce.

They should change the wording in 22-1 from "may" to "must", and/or release a decision specifically banning unspoken agreement.

[Vinsk]

Be interesting to see if the situation arises next time Jimmy plays. Can’t remember when the article says...I assume the US OPEN.

[CCC]

Also happened on the Web.com tour today.. The ball was in front of the hole. Blocking a straight in shot. And the guy pitching, from just off the green, had no problem with that.????

What is going on here?????

 

[DeadMan]

I bet Jimmy Walker has no problem marking when he's playing with DJ...

Also, the USGA will be watching him like a hawk next week.

Edited June 11, 2018 by DeadMan

[Shorty]

14 hours ago, iacas said:

Wow. Jimmy Walker super ignorant on two fronts there. Ouch.

My guess is that he's solved the problem though. By doing it from now on, they're essentially proving themselves to be cheats now that the code of silence has been broken.

 

[DaveP043]

7 hours ago, Shorty said:

My guess is that he's solved the problem though. By doing it from now on, they're essentially proving themselves to be cheats now that the code of silence has been broken.

Makes me wonder if Jimmy is crazy like a fox.  Maybe he hates backstopping, hates the peer pressure to help his fellow competitors.  He's shone a light on intentional backstopping, maybe that open admission will put enough pressure on players and officials to make them change what they're doing.