rule they are rules. But their ramifications differ.
Sometimes they seem to conspire against us, racking up a penalty at the worst possible moment. Other times, they openly smile in our favor.
Think again about Jordan Spieth in 2017 Open Championship. One minute, his chances looked bleak after an errant drive found a tangle to the right on the par-4 13th at Royal Birkdale. Next, he was taking cheap relief, falling to friendly ground and turning what looked like a tournament-threatening disaster into a manageable slog on his way to victory.
The scene looked strange. But it was entirely within the letter of the law. It was also a reminder of a simple truth: knowing the Rules of Golf can pay real dividends. Being aware of your options—especially the lesser-known ones—can turn trouble into opportunity.
These situations arise more often than most players realize.
Consider this example, which spawned one of the USGA’s most viewed rules videos of 2025, with more than 2.2 million views. The Explainer stars Jay Roberts, the governing body’s senior manager of rules, technology, content and education, whose online tutorials have made him a trusted guide for players looking to understand how the rules actually work on the course.
In the video, Roberts hits a car to the right. He rests next to a tree in a position that makes a right-handed swing impossible. Instead of calling the ball unplayable, Roberts turns and drives it lefty, his most realistic shot. There’s just one problem. Switching sides, he is now standing on a cart path.
That detail changes everything. And in the end it’s not a problem.
Because the cart path interferes with his stance for the shot he intends to make, Roberts is entitled to free relief, even though it is a left-handed shot. Under Rule 16.1a(3), a player is allowed to find the nearest point of full relief, take a club-length and drop – without penalty. And here is something even better. Once the ball is back in play, he is free to hit it with his right.
The main caveat, as Roberts explains, is intent: the hit for which the player claims interference must be reasonable. You cannot produce relief with an obviously absurd swing. But if the shot is legal, the rules allow it.
It’s an elegant example of how a little tweaking knowledge can go a long way.
