R&A: Our Chief Referee Is Always Ready To Rule On Video

Shane Bacon proposes that we have three-person review centers at the major championships ready to review possible rules infractions, and while it makes sense on paper, it's also depressing to think it's come to this.

Of course, new R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers didn't take long to get asked about 18-2 and video reviews during his first press conference as head man.

Slumbers made clear the R&A has been ready to review and decide on such scenarios for a decade.

MARTIN SLUMBERS: Yeah, this is just throughout the process, the team here have been thinking about how to respond and monitor any sort of chain of command around rules for over ten years now. And about ten years ago a fundamental change was made by the team here, which I think makes a big difference in the way we would deal with any situation that arises in the next four days, which is that the chief referee doesn't leave this compound here. He has access to video replays in his office, and in addition to that, either Peter or I are also always here.

So we are very focused on -- rules are complex. This is a big, big animal out there being played on. All sorts of things can happen, we know that, and generally do happen in this game. It is the speed and the clarity with which we respond, which is something that we're very focused on, have been for a number of years. And I think it's that function of us sitting here, just about 50 yards away, being able to respond and provide instructions back to the referees, is the difference in how we would deal with it.

Zing!

Sadly, that was about as good as it got.

This was a First Team, All-Conference non-answer:

Q. Martin, what is your take on Rory McIlroy's comments regarding not feeling a special need to give back to the game?

MARTIN SLUMBERS: Well, I think everybody has a right to their own opinions, and from our perspective I think we have three fundamental roles in the game: One is what's going to happen over the next few days in the Open Championship, two is governance, and three is about how we develop the game. It's part of our DNA to focus on developing the game. I think you have to look to the future always. I think it's great to celebrate wonderful talent out there today, whether it's in the professional game or the amateur game, but it's equally important to look to the future for us, and that's something we're focused on.

Still, Slumbers did make a good impression by sounding engaged and with a little less of the attitude brought by his predecessor.