Jason Day's Bad Drops at Firestone

[Martyn W]

Unless I missed something, Day was instructed to proceed incorrectly when it was established that a spectator had deliberately deflected his ball. From 19-2: 

Note: If a player's ball in motion has been deliberately deflected or stopped by an outside agency:

(a)

after a stroke from anywhere other than on the putting green, the spot where the ball would have come to rest must be estimated.

The RO appeared to have given him the drop at the point where the deflection took place. To compound the (apparent) error, he watched him drop incorrectly twice!! The ball was way above shoulder height on both drops.

[iacas]

On what hole? At approximately what time (eastern time)?

[InTheRough]

3 minutes ago, Martyn W said:

Unless I missed something, Day was instructed to proceed incorrectly when it was established that a spectator had deliberately deflected his ball. From 19-2: 

Note: If a player's ball in motion has been deliberately deflected or stopped by an outside agency:

(a)

after a stroke from anywhere other than on the putting green, the spot where the ball would have come to rest must be estimated.

The RO appeared to have given him the drop at the point where the deflection took place. To compound the (apparent) error, he watched him drop incorrectly twice!! The ball was way above shoulder height on both drops.

I think they said that a kid stopped (picked up) the ball while it was still moving, not deflected it.  The official then let him drop roughly where the ball would have stopped if the kid hadn't picked it up while it was still moving. 

[Martyn W]

3 minutes ago, iacas said:

On what hole? At approximately what time (eastern time)?

16, 5:15

[David in FL]

You can hear the RO saying that they had to estimate where the ball would have ended up.  I think they proceeded correctly.

Day definitely dropped from higher than shoulder level, but I think the spirit of the rule is to ensure that you don't gain an advantage from dropping from lower than shoulder level, rather than dictating that the drop must be from exactly shoulder level, no?

[Hardspoon]

27 minutes ago, David in FL said:

Day definitely dropped from higher than shoulder level, but I think the spirit of the rule is to ensure that you don't gain an advantage from dropping from lower than shoulder level, rather than dictating that the drop must be from exactly shoulder level, no?

The wording of the rule is "must", so the drop has to be at shoulder level.  I didn't see the drop in question, but you could probably drop from what would be considered "shoulder level" even though your arm is pointing upwards (bottom of ball even with top of shoulder).  I'm curious what others here think.

[iacas]

36 minutes ago, David in FL said:

Day definitely dropped from higher than shoulder level, but I think the spirit of the rule is to ensure that you don't gain an advantage from dropping from lower than shoulder level, rather than dictating that the drop must be from exactly shoulder level, no?

As @Hardspoon said, the rule says "must." You could get an extra "bounce" if you drop from too high, also. Just as you could if you "threw" the ball into the ground.

[Hardspoon]

Does anyone have this on DVR that can post a screenshot?  I'm really curious.

Does he always drop like that?  Seems strange he would drop differently TWICE.

 

[saevel25]

4 minutes ago, Hardspoon said:

Does anyone have this on DVR that can post a screenshot?  I'm really curious.

Does he always drop like that?  Seems strange he would drop differently TWICE.

 

Unless the ball bounced toward the hole? 

[Hardspoon]

8 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

Unless the ball bounced toward the hole? 

Sorry, I meant it would be strange if he normally drops from shoulder level, but suddenly twice in a row held the ball much higher.

[Missouri Swede]

57 minutes ago, Hardspoon said:

Does anyone have this on DVR that can post a screenshot?  I'm really curious.

Here ya go. Looks like his hand is at the level of the top of his head:

First drop:

Second drop:

[Fourputt]

Someone needs to call him on it, or at least teach him how to drop correctly.

[Hardspoon]

5 minutes ago, Missouri Swede said:

Here ya go. Looks like his hand is at the level of the top of his head

Thanks.

Yes, I don't think either of those could be interpreted as "shoulder level". The rules official really needs to say something there...that's his job (to make sure the drop is legal).

Strange. 

 

[saevel25]

9 minutes ago, Missouri Swede said:

Here ya go. Looks like his hand is at the level of the top of his head:

It's close in my opinion. Maybe that's his feel for shoulder level ;) 

[iacas]

30 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

It's close in my opinion. Maybe that's his feel for shoulder level ;) 

To a rules official, no, that's not close. Rules officials should be all over that.

[Asheville]

Pardon the cynicism, but the PGA Tour is little more than a TV show whose goal is to sell advertising for Buicks and Viagra. The referees are employees of the PGA Tour. They and the players are all friends. That's not to say that the referees aren't highly skilled or don't try, but look at who's paying their salaries. 

[Patch]

Viagra? I'm a Budweiser guy myself. 

[Buckeyebowman]

2 hours ago, saevel25 said:

It's close in my opinion. Maybe that's his feel for shoulder level ;) 

Then he should have been instructed otherwise by the RO! Head high my foot! The first drop is above head high! And I find it hard to believe that a person with the physical skills to be the #1 golfer in world can't determine where shoulder high is!

Oh, wait a minute! I just noticed the "winkie, blinkie" at the end of the sentence! Verrry tongue in cheek!

Edited July 4, 2016 by Buckeyebowman