Two Follow-Ups To The Woods Drop Controversy
/The Tiger Woods 15th hole drop story went a couple of directions Sunday.
In the case of this appropriately measured Barry Rhodes blog post sent in by another member of the rules community, you're seeing how the experts on these matters are reacting to Fred Ridley's invocation of Rule 33-7 to resolve the situation.
So, to be absolutely clear, the Committee waived the penalty of disqualification, because they considered that this was an exceptional individual case where such a penalty would have been too harsh. I am not aware of any other situation where a player who did not know a Rule of Golf (or if they did, they forgot about it) has been favourably treated in this way. I am therefore surprised at the ruling and believe that it may have adverse consequences in the future in similar situations.
In the conspiracy theory with just enough validity department, Augusta Chronicle photographer Michael Holahan's images today were analyzed in this unbylined wire story which suggests that Woods was
While the photos may not be conclusive evidence and they will no doubt be picked apart, Tiger does appear to be standing within inches of where he took his first shot, not the two yards that he himself thought he had moved.
Holahan maintained his location for both shots, offering a clear comparison. Television replays, on the other hand, came from different locations as an ESPN cameraman on the course set up in slightly different locations.
The photo comparison prompted more questions of Woods about the drop after his final round 70 left him four shots out of the playoff.
Q. Is there any chance that you were mistaken when you said you were two yards back, because there were photos that looked like you were in the exact same spot?
TIGER WOODS: No, I saw the photos.
Q. What do you think?
TIGER WOODS: I was behind it.
Q. You do?
TIGER WOODS: Yeah.
Q. So you're pretty sure that the two yards is actually ‑‑
TIGER WOODS: One, two yards. But it certainly was not as close as the rule says.
