Andrew Johnston, from left, Matt Wallace and a rules official Sunday on the 9th hole at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
The Golf Channel
Sunday on the 9th hole at the quiet Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, nestled among the Swiss Alps, just to the right of an electronic leaderboard flashing scores from the final round of the DP World Tour Omega European Mastersa rules official explained the relaxation of the rules.
But not before providing comic relief.
Truly humor can be found at any time and laughter can be created by anyone.
Then came the scene Andrew “Beef” Johnston’s tee shot, which sailed right on the par-5, before ending up several feet to the right of the aforementioned leaderboard, preventing him from making a full cut. Help was requested with the rules. One of Johnston’s playing partners, Matt Wallacealso offered a hand. What followed was captured by Golf Channel cameras and shared by the DP World Tour social media team.
Said Wallace: “There are two rules to this. It’s not one where you get a swing from it. And then two, from there. As in, you’ll get to the nearest point, then two club lengths. Go to the nearest point and then two club lengths. So it’s the new rule.”
Said Johnston: “Yes.”
Said Wallace: “Yeah, so it’s not a swing.”
Johnston said, “Okay, so how . . .”
Wallace said to the official, standing a few feet to Johnston’s right, “It’s like the closest point, right?”
Here, the official stopped. While two others were admirably trying to find an answer to the job he was hired for, how would he respond?
Like this:
The judge said: “Oh. Let me do it; I’m the referee.”
Here, for about 15 seconds, Johnston and the people gathered around laughed. The official stood with his hands raised. Wallace left. Finally Johnston said, “You’re a comedian too.”
Finally, the help of the rules was given.
The judge said: “So you have two options. TIO rule or immovable obstruction.”
Johnston said, “Okay.”
The umpire said: “So stationary, you swing and you’re free and then you have a club length to hit the ball.”
Said Johnston: “Yes.”
The referee said: “It’s the closest point of relief. So pick up your club and take the swing without getting hit.”
Here, Johnston took a swing and the leaderboard appeared to be on its way.
Said the referee: “OK, now the closest point…”
Said the umpire, pointing to a spot to the right of where Johnston was originally: “Is that over here, all right?”
Here, Johnston took a swing, and he was clear.
The judge said: “Yes, good. The closest point of relief, then you’re dropping a club length.”
Johnston said: “Okay, perfect. Yes, yes, yes, this is perfect.”
From there, Johnston punched forward, and he made the holeshot.
A Golf Channel analyst said, “Boy, that was priceless. It was a very funny moment, wasn’t it?”
Another analyst said: “Absolutely. Wally (Wallace) just laughed at the referee.”
Rules Boy: My playing partner hung his jacket on the flagstick as he came. Is this legal?
Rules Guy
Good stuff, for sure. We will conclude here with a look at the two rules that were observed. The leader board was considered an immovable obstacle, and relief for immovable obstacles is covered under Rule 16.1where it says: “Interference exists when any of the following is true: the player’s ball touches or is on or in an abnormal condition of the course, an abnormal condition of the course physically interferes with the player’s intended stance area or intended movement area , or only when the ball is on the green, an abnormal condition of the course on or off the green interferes with the line of play.” Here, the relief area is the “nearest point of full relief in the general area” and a club-length of that reference point.
But what about the mention of the TIO rule? An online rules booklet explains Model Local Rule F-23 in this way:
“TIOs (such as a stand or a canopy) are not normally present and are not considered part of the challenge to play the course. Due to their temporary nature, this Local Rule provides an additional relief option not allowed by immovable obstacles, although the player may still choose to treat the TIO as if it were an immovable obstacle and use the relief procedures of available in Rule 16.
“Additional relief provided by this Local Rule includes the ability for a player to obtain relief when the TIO is in a straight line between his or her ball and the hole (known as ‘line-of-sight relief’) by moving sideways, keeping the same distance from the hole so that the TIO is no longer between the player’s ball and the hole (also known as moving along the ‘equal arc’).
“When a player receives relief from a TIO, either under this Local Rule or the relief procedures in Rule 16, the player is guaranteed full relief from physical interference. But only when relief is obtained using the additional relief option under this Local Rule, the player will be guaranteed full relief because the TIO is in his line of sight.”
