Famous US Open Rulings – #3

In 1994 the US Open was at Oakmont Country Club. As the final round began, Ernie Els hit his opening tee shot on the first hole to the left into a horrible lie. On a direct line from Ernie’s ball to the hole was a crane. The official with the group was Trey Holland who later became the President of the USGA and I believe was chairman of the Rules of Golf Committee at that time. Holland did not know the crane could be moved (the operator was sitting in it) as it was over a hill and he couldn’t see the bottom of it. Therefore he gave Els relief under the Temporary Immovable Obstruction rule which is used to give line of sight relief for objects that have been put in place just for the championship. After the drop, Els was in a much better place and was able to put the ball on the green. He did three-putt for a bogey. It is possible he could have wedged out, gotten on the green and still made bogey, but we’ll never know.

Holland acknowledged his error and has always had a good sense of humor about it, even though I’m sure it bothers him to have made a mistake like that as it does all good rules officials. I always feel that he doesn’t deserve all the blame. There was an observer with the group who should have been up ahead and told him that the crane could be moved.

Trey probably became the most famous official of his time with this ruling, although some might say he should already have been famous for being one of the teachers at my first Rules of Golf Workshop along with Rick Burton of the PGA in 1992, well maybe not for that.