Fleetwood Not Given Relief From Drain. Why Not?

[SAGolfLuvr]

If you're watching the Players Championship, you know what I am talking about, no relief from a man-made drain around the green, resulting in a bogey. After seeing this, I am now afraid to take relief from any obvious man-made object without breaking the rules. I'd better get creative.  Guess that means WE ALL better strive to be better golfers and never need relief.

[iacas]

  On 3/16/2019 at 2:49 AM, SAGolfLuvr said:

If you're watching the Players Championship, you know what I am talking about, no relief from a man-made drain around the green, resulting in a bogey. After seeing this, I am now afraid to take relief from any obvious man-made object without breaking the rules. I'd better get creative.  Guess that means WE ALL better strive to be better golfers and never need relief.

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You're gonna need to post a picture or something.

He probably didn't meet the criteria for relief.

[DeadMan]

I saw this while watching today. It was directly in front of his line of play, but wasn't interfering with his stance, swing, and the ball wasn't on it. I guess the PGA Tour doesn't have the Local Rule on immovable obstructions interfering with your line of play near the green (Local Rule F-5). Without the Local Rule, you don't get relief when a drain is only interfering with your line of play.

FWIW, I think the drain was more than 2 club lengths away from the putting green, so he wouldn't have gotten relief under the local rule anyway.

[SAGolfLuvr]

[Missouri Swede]

Here's what it looked like (16th hole, 2nd round):

 

[Augster]

It’s only in his line of play, not stance, lie, or swing.

From what I know, I don’t believe the PGA Tour uses that local rule. And as Deadman pointed out, he’s more than 2CL’s from the green and wouldn’t be eligible anyway. I know they use the local rule overseas on a lot of courses. 

Just a bad break here in America. 

[Fourputt]

  On 3/16/2019 at 2:49 AM, SAGolfLuvr said:

If you're watching the Players Championship, you know what I am talking about, no relief from a man-made drain around the green, resulting in a bogey. After seeing this, I am now afraid to take relief from any obvious man-made object without breaking the rules. I'd better get creative.  Guess that means WE ALL better strive to be better golfers and never need relief.

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It was too far from the edge of the green to qualify for interference on line of play under the local rule (the local rule IS in effect, as I saw it used in Thursday's round).  The lie of his ball met the second provision of the local rule, but not the first requirement.  Both conditions must be met to be entitled to relief:

  Quote

Model Local Rule F-5

“Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1.

The player also has these extra options to take relief when such immovable obstructions are close to the putting green and on the line of play:

Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction is:

• On the line of play, and is:

  • Within two club-lengths of the putting green, and

  • Within two club-lengths of the ball.

Exception – No Relief If Line of Play Clearly Unreasonable. There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of playthat is clearly unreasonable.

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[iacas]

  On 3/16/2019 at 2:49 AM, SAGolfLuvr said:

If you're watching the Players Championship, you know what I am talking about, no relief from a man-made drain around the green, resulting in a bogey. After seeing this, I am now afraid to take relief from any obvious man-made object without breaking the rules. I'd better get creative.  Guess that means WE ALL better strive to be better golfers and never need relief.

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So there's your answer. While it was "around the green" it wasn't within 2 CL of the green.

Would have been the same thing if a drain was a yard in front of him in the fairway. Irrelevant.

[Buckeyebowman]

  On 3/16/2019 at 3:53 AM, Augster said:

It’s only in his line of play, not stance, lie, or swing.

From what I know, I don’t believe the PGA Tour uses that local rule. And as Deadman pointed out, he’s more than 2CL’s from the green and wouldn’t be eligible anyway. I know they use the local rule overseas on a lot of courses. 

Just a bad break here in America. 

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Bingo! It did not interfere with his stance or his swing, Thus, no relief. I've played plenty of shots like that. 

[Vinsk]

  On 3/16/2019 at 2:49 AM, SAGolfLuvr said:

I'd better get creative.  Guess that means WE ALL better strive to be better golfers and never need relief.

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Or....we can all make an effort to understand the rules a bit better and learn how to abide by them and when they can be advantageous.😁