John Daly’s problems with water
John Daly has had well documented problems with other liquids, but today at the 16th hole at the BMW International Open in Germany, his problem was with water. John hit is second shot into the lateral water hazard by the green. He took the penalty shot and dropped the ball twice. Both times it rolled back into the water. The first time he attempted to place the ball it rolled into the water before it was at rest. So, he tried again. This time the ball stayed in place and was in play.
While he was getting his club, the ball suddenly rolled back down the slope into the water. He had to either play the ball as it lay or take another penalty stroke and drop. He chose to play it and knocked it over the green. From there he got a free drop from a sprinkler head. From there he got down in 2 shots for a double bogey.
This happened to Thomas Levet a few years ago. He was unfortunate enough not to be able to play the ball and had to take another penalty.
The moral of this story is when your ball is on a precarious slope, be ready to hit it quickly.
Question: If you drop twice and need proceed under the place rule. Do you have to place immediately? Or, can you decide its too risky, get a club, and then place and play?
There is no requirement that you place the ball immediately. You could put down a mark and then place your ball later.
Similar situation this weekend during a 12 man team match: Opponent hit his ball into a water hazard: drop from where he tought in entered the hazard: it came to rest & rolled back in to lake, unable to play it he dropped again. Prior to playing this ball is partner found is ball some 20 yard further from the hole where his ball was in play. He did not how to proceed. I advised him he could pick up the second dropped ball in play under 20.6 & drop from where his ball was found without penetly. However, he was unsure wheather the to count the first dropped ball which rolled back in to the hazard since it was dropped in the wrong place. I felt it should since it was a rest & in play & would not have counted if pick up & dropped in the correct place prior to rolling back into the hazard. He agreed to count the penalty stroke for the ball which rolled back into the hazard after being dropped. He hit his next shot back into the hazard again & conceeded the hole to my par.
Does Rule 20.6 cover a ball which is dropped in wrong spot not played but & enters a hazard/OB prior to being able to be picked up & dropped in the correct place?? Did we proceed correctly by counting the penatly for the dropped ball rolling back into the hazard. Is this covered under any other rule or decision.
Barry, Decision 26-1/16 covers a ball dropped in a wrong place. Even though the ball rolled back into the hazard it doesn’t change things. He should go to the correct place and drop with just the original one-stroke penalty under Rule 26. As long as he had not made a stroke at the ball, he must drop in the correct place using 20-6.