My Top 10 Rulings

Mak Lok-lin, fresh from his latest golfing disaster, remembers the times when the Rules (or the interpretation of them) either helped or hindered the world’s finest players

3 Paul Azinger
1991 Doral Ryder Open
Doral Golf Resort & Spa

Zinger became another ridiculously belated victim of the mysterious “caller” (who seems to have unbridled access to rules officials) when playing in the Doral Ryder Open in 1991. Lying second by a shot after shooting a 65, Azinger was taken to a CBS television truck to review film of him playing a shot from the previous day. Lying semi-submerged in a water hazard on 18, Paul decided to attempt to play the ball rather than take a penalty drop.
From the film, it appeared that he had “pawed the ground” in the hazard, shifting small stones as he did so. When the rules official explained that moving loose impediments in a hazard is a breach of rule 13-4, Azinger agreed and was disqualified. Afterwards, he said he shuffled his feet the way he would in a bunker, had no issue with being corrected, but wasn’t happy that anyone could call in 24 hours later and call an issue the tour officials had no problem with at the time.
Funnily enough, earlier this year at the same hole at the same tournament Aaron Baddley disqualified himself for the same reason. In round two he asked to move a large rock, was told why he couldn’t, then realized he had kicked stones away the previous day and called the penalty on himself. No onanist “caller” required.

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