R&A announces change in Rules
The R&A has announced a set of new Rule changes that will come into effect at the beginning of next year
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club has announced a number of Rule changes including the addressing of a golf ball and playing from a hazard.
The change of Rules, which will come into effect from January 1, 2012, will not penalise a player if their ball moves following address "when it is known or virtually certain that he or she did not cause the ball to move."
This Rule change is announced during a season that has seen Webb Simpson lose a play-off at the Zurich Classic after dropping a shot whilst playing under the current Rules.
This Rule change has pleased three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington who said: "Every time the wind blows I am worried that my ball is going to move and I am worried about grounding my putter, distracting me from trying to hole my putt." Harrington fell foul of the Rule at the Masters a few year ago.
Players who are playing from a hazard will now be able to smooth soil or sand before playing their shot if it is in the interest of caring for the course.
Other Rule changes that have also been announced include the definition of addressing the ball and changing the penalty for missing a start time by five minutes or less from automatic disqualification to just the loss of the first hole in matchplay or a two-stroke penalty on the first hole in strokeplay.
All of the new Rule changes can be found at the R&A official website.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
-
RBC Heritage Tee Times - Rounds One And Two
Some of the world's best players are competing at Harbour Town, with Rory McIlroy paired with Ludvig Aberg
By Mike Hall Published
-
'I Think 100 Is My Finishing Line' - Angela Stanford Suggests Retirement Is Close Ahead Of 98th Consecutive Major
The 2018 Evian Championship winner is playing her 98th consecutive Major at the Chevron Championship this week aged 46
By Jonny Leighfield Published