The R&A's Distance Measuring Device Flowchart...

I was really confused about when and where distance measuring devices could be used in golf starting this month, but the R&A has provided two frequently asked questions and this extremely simple flowchart to help clarify.

Any questions?

Why Won't The PGA Tour Pay For Full Time Telecast Monitors?

As we put a wrap on 2013, it's impossible not to think back to all of the rules controversies that made things fascinating and slightly awkward at times.

So consider the following anecdotes and you tell me if the PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem is earning his millions.

• The PGA Tour's biggest star was considered "cavalier" with the rules in 2013 and there is no sign that the governing bodies plan to change the rules in any serious way to prevent phone-in rules aficionados from calling in possible violations.
• The unionized PGA Tour rules staff worked for months without a contract, and even then, will have to work 15 years to receive the same pay and benefits package of a second-year PGA Tour agronomist. The difference between the two jobs? One is union-connected, one is not.
• The PGA Tour employs hundreds of people, including someone to monitor the networks (standing in the truck!), ShotLink experts to help the telecasts and plenty of other unknown by vital folks to helping the tour look as good as possible on television. Yet when it comes to the rules issue that is so obviously remedied by a full-time staffer monitoring things? No way Jose!
• Because of YouTube, DVR's and golf websites, players seen in a possible infraction will continue to be noticed no matter what rules are changed by the governing bodies to reduce the impact of outside agencies phoning in violations.

Yet Commissioner Bottom Line has steadfastly refused to hire a few additional rules staffers to monitor all of the PGA Tour telecasts. This is a man who gladly pays Vice Presidents CEO money and gets the Willies just thinking of any potential controversy that might taint the vaunted "brand." Yet he apparently despises union workers so much that he's willing set aside his primary predilections and put the sanctity of his product at the mercy of more phoned-in rules violations in 2014.

Thankfully, the drumbeat continues as very intelligent people are calling on the PGA Tour to expand its rules staff to include a full-time telecast monitor who saves players from penalty and embarrassment in the HD era. Considering what HD television is doing to make golf more compelling to watch, this is a small price to pay for the PGA Tour flush with cash.

Jack Ross in a special to ESPN.com, notes the reluctance by the USGA and R&A to add more pages to the Decisions book for what is essentially a PGA Tour financial decision.

So far, the USGA and R&A do not seem inclined to place restrictions on input from television viewers. The ruling bodies of golf have long maintained that, since most golf competition is not supervised by rules officials, the vigilance of players, caddies and spectators is necessary to maintain the integrity of the competition and protect the field. In fact, the reliance on input from spectators is well embedded in the Rules of Golf. Rules decisions say that testimony of spectators and television footage must be evaluated in resolving rules issues.

Former USGA Executive Director David Fay in the January Golf Digest lays out all of the particulars from 2013, the past attempts at telecast monitors (pre-HD and pre-DVR), and explains why it's time for the PGA Tour to have a full-time monitor.

And Fay, Feinstein and yours truly discussed this very topic on the season finale of Grey Goose 19th Hole.

Beman: "Why is it now so important to eliminate bifurcation?"

I finally got a few minutes to take in the entire Deane Beman address (text version) from last week's USGA Pace of Play event, and besides enjoying the image of folks squirming as he talked bifurcation of the rules where the rulemakers reside (and steadfastly oppose bifurcation), you have to admire the dry wit.

Beman, most certainly never considered for a sidekick role on The Tonight Show, turned the tide on the bifurcation discussion by accepting that we already have it, and why are we the big, bad governing bodies trying to get rid of bifurcated rules?

The former PGA Tour Commish lays out the ways we are bifurcated now (grooves, one-ball rule) and writes:

Why is it now so important to eliminate bifurcation?  There is no evidence that bifurcation has hurt the popularity of our game -- just the opposite can be creditably advanced.  Golf’s popularity was surging in the 1950’s and 60’s when two different size golf balls were played around the world.  Don’t let the stance on bifurcation stand in the way of addressing some of golf’s problems.

He ties it into the slow play discussion and makes this point about longer, narrower courses in championship play making their way into the everyday game:

The problem of slow play, as well as the decline in the growth and financial viability of golf in the U.S., has some of its seeds from the well-intended notion that in order to identify “a worthy champion” in major championships, it was necessary to alter the playing field to accomplish that objective.

The Red Sox won the World Series and they are the undisputed world champions of baseball.  Baseball did not feel the need to add another 10 feet to get to first base, grow longer grass in the infield or move the home run fence farther out.  They also have bifurcated rules that allow a designated hitter in one league versus the other and were able to make a mutual accommodation for the World Series for the good and harmony of the game.  None of these actions would lessen the crown that Boston wears or harm baseball as a popular sport.

Video: Simon Dyson DQ Incident At BMW Masters

GolfCentralDaily has posted the video and they express sympathy for Simon Dyson after he tapped a mark of some kind in his line.

It's an obvious violation, one that tour players get around daily by pretending to fix a ball mark. So in that sense, yes, the rule is silly. But he still should not have done it. He was not available for comment after the round.

The video: