Bad News for Snedeker (R18)

Bad News for Snedeker (R18)

R18; Def. “Outside Agency”

Certainly Brandt Snedeker had a lot to be pleased about this week. He shot 59, won the Wyndham Championship, some serious cash, and moved from 80th to 30th in the Fed Ex Cup play-off rankings. The entire Nashville community is rejoicing! Not bad!

Unfortunately, one award will not be forthcoming. After watching the same commercial 50 times over the weekend Foremost realized, that in order to preserve the honor and integrity of the game, BS must decline the free one-week stay at Wyndham resorts.

Facts

We all saw the commercial. BS attempts a 15 foot putt which stops a couple of inches short of the hole. A look of agony crosses his face.

Watching aside from on the green is a character called the Wizard. With a sly grin, he twirls his fingers, and the ball miraculously drops into the hole.

“You know what this means, Wizard!” says BS, his face quickly brightening.

“Yes”, says the Wizard. “You have won a free one weeks stay at the Wyndham resort of your choice.”

Issue

Did BS sink that putt?

Ruling

Foremost hates to cast any shadows on what was a glorious week for BS and his fans, but this award cannot stand.

After watching the commercial numerous times, F reluctantly finds as a matter of fact that the Wizard was responsible for holing the putt. Under the Rules, the Wizard was an “outside agency”, which is defined in stroke play as any agency other than the player’s side or Caddie. It includes…”a spectator”, in which category F places the Wizard.

When a ball “at rest” is moved by an outside agency, there is no penalty, but the ball must be replaced. R18-1. In order to apply this rule, it must be “known or virtually certain “ that the outside agency moved the ball. Even though BS may not have personally witnessed the Wizard twirl his finger, the entire free world saw the act on tv and the accompanying magic dust which whisked the ball into the hole from an at rest position.

Since BS failed to replace the ball, he incurred a two-stroke penalty, the general penalty, for breach of R18.

We know what this means, Wizard…he didn’t sink the putt and win the trip.

As usual, all comments are welcome!

Sadly, but respectfully submitted,
F

2 thoughts on “Bad News for Snedeker (R18)”

  1. Foremost,

    Theological question: if the Lord intervenes in a golf game, would that too be considered an “outside agency”? For example, remember the preacher from caddy shack who refused to let a little lightening and thunder ruin the best round of his life? Is there a ruling on divine intervention?

  2. In the absence of a physical manifestation, such as a burning bush or the parting of a water hazard, F finds that divine intervention would not be an “outside agency” as defined by the Rules.

    For example, if the Rev or F make a par…a rare occurrence….the rule would not be invoked despite overwhelming evidence of divine intervention.

    F

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