Get a life

There’s a wonderful scene in the Legend of Bagger Vance when Hardy is telling Junuh why he loves golf, “it’s the only game I know where you can call a penalty on yourself. If you’re honest, which most people are. Their just ain’t  no other game like it”

Admittedly this is a fictional film but in in depression ridden America back then they did not have to allow for out 21st century problem, trial by TV.

On the 18th fairway at the Avantha Masters Peter Whiteford stepped away from his ball. He looked puzzled. He then queried with his caddie, playing partners and even the TV cameraman if his ball had moved. Everyone, and I mean everyone, thought it had not. Whiteford played the shot, completed his round, signed his card then headed back to the hotel.

End of story, or so you would have thought.  

During the night some eagle eyed television viewer had spent countless hours replaying, enlarging, enhancing the incident and noticed the ball had moved. So this person duly contacted the European Tour with his/her/its findings.

I thing the official name for such a person is saddo.

Peter Whiteford was informed of this on his arrival at the course, but was still allowed to tee off.

It was not until the 3rd hole that Pete was informed that he was disqualified, the 3rd ??

Does that not suggest that the European Tour officials themselves where not 100% convinced themselves ?

In hindsight we can all say that Pete should have gone to rules officials after the round, before signing his card, and asked them to check it. But why would or should you? If you and your competitors have agreed there was no infringement then surely that should be acceptable ??

Did Whiteford cheat ? NO

Did Whiteford gain an advantage ? NO

Was a rule deliberately broken ? NO

I have to got to say Pete handled himself with more class and decorum than I ever could in such circumstances.

The really sad thing is that there are people out there with nothing better to do.

As the rules currently are the European Tour acted, as they see it, in the correct manor.

What we now need the European Tour, in fact every professional tour, needs to do is introduce a new ruling.

“After the completion of that days play TV evidence will not be used unless a player has deliberately cheated or gained advantage.” and  “In circumstances where a player and his competitors have agreed on an incident the tour will accept the players honourable word”

Too simple??