Jeff Overton To Rules Staff: Please Coddle Me A Little More!

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From Stephen Hawkins' AP story on Jeff Overton, who was DQ'd for using a putting alignment aid mid-round after an official told him he could putt while a 10th tee backup worked its way out.

Soon after coming off the course, Overton tweeted "3 group back up at the turn. Rules official tells me we can practice chipping and putting. Disqualified for using my practice putting aid!"

Overton immediately followed that with another tweet, "Why do rules officials initiate that conversation to begin with. I wouldn't even have gone up there if I had know that. What a joke!"

Going to a designated practice area is permissible during a round, but use of artificial or instructional devices isn't. The penalty is disqualification.

"If ur gonna inform someone on a rule of something a person can do, make sure u remind them of the small things they can't do," Overton added on (at)JeffOvertonPGA.

How could that darned official not know that Overton uses a putting aid? Why, it's what all the kids do these days!

Or, Jeff could go to Rules School? Or, use your brain to wonder if you should ask before pulling out the aid? Or, I don't know, maybe have a caddy who would wonder if that's a good idea? It's got to be anybody by the players' fault!

The Overton Tweets for posterity: 

Golf Central's report starts at the 13 minute mark.

Randall Mells's explanation of the decision and rule 14-3/10.3.

And a flashback story on Juli Inkster's DQ for the same reason, only hers was at the hand of a TV viewer.