Dyson Facing Possible Discipline Over Line-Tapping Incident!?

Alasdair Reid reports that a disciplinary committee has been convened to study and possibly ban Simon Dyson from European Tour play.

The move comes following the BMW Masters incident in which he tapped down a noticeable landmine in his line.

Participants in the review are likely to include David Garland, the European Tour’s director of tournament operations, chief referee John Paramor and chief executive George O’Grady. Dyson is likely to be invited to give his version of events as well.

If it is decided that the 35-year-old has a case to answer then a disciplinary panel would be convened, with the power to hand down a fine or ban.

With Dubai still in the balance, Dyson is due to take part in the Turkish Open on Nov 7-10, so his case would almost certainly have to be heard within the next few days.

While video footage shows beyond any doubt that Dyson did touch the line of his putt, it may be harder to establish any malign intent in his actions.

According to Paramor, Dyson had no recollection of the moment when it was shown to him.

Reid took to the Scottish Herald to make the sensical point that while Dyson certainly violated the rules, it's hardly possible to determine his intent or rank this as an offense for the ages which must be prosecuted beyond the DQ he's already experienced.

Punishment enough? You'd think so. But no sooner had the distraught Dyson boarded his flight back home than a whispering campaign began in his wake. According to reports, "four members" of the Tour's players' committee were "outraged" by the incident. There is talk now of a misconduct charge, a hefty fine and even a suspension. Apparently, he is in "for a shower of locker-room abuse" at his next tournament.

Well how about a shower of contempt for those players who are the anonymous sources of this story as well? Their outrage would be easier to swallow if even one of them had had the guts to remove the cloak of anonymity and put his name to their criticisms of Dyson. If you're going to call a man a cheat then you should have the courage to do so to his face, not by way of a whispering campaign and unattributable briefings.

For the life of me, I can't see that Dyson's action could be proved beyond reasonable doubt to be intentional cheating, which is surely the test that has to be satisfied.