The Masters And Two Shot Penalty

Spring is in the air and HD TV makes the Masters Golf Tournament look like I am sitting in the middle of the golf course having the time of my life.  CBS's Masters piano music truly means that spring is here.  There is no doubt that the Augusta National Golf Club walks to their own beat.  They have told TV this is the way we run our tournament and if you want to cover it you will cut down on commercials.  If you don't like it we don't need TV coverage.  They told the women's lib movement you can protest all you want as to us not having women members but if you do it will be down the road not here.

The Masters is not a PGA event nor is it a USGA or the Royal and Ancient event. So basically if they wanted to create a new way of scoring for this event they could do so.  You have to be invited to play there. If they wanted to they could make up any rule at any time to "who do"  the event and could make sure who ever they wanted to win would.

Despite walking to their own beat the Masters has stuck to the rules of golf in the tradition of the man that started the Masters Bobby Jones.  They have created as the ad says a tournament like no other.  It is called a Major golf event and is the only Major every year played on the same course.  This year only 90 some were invited to play. 

Golf has found that TV and social media can see every move made within the lens of the camera and they can go back and replay shots over and over in a 24 hour period.  Do you remember not long ago a player playing in one of those desert tournament laid a towel down on in a sandy rough area to hit a shot from his knees and someone on TV called the network to advise them that was a penalty.  TV has brought on rules officials that sit in front of the TV and watch in HD.

David Feherty on the CBS late night coverage questioned Tiger Woods ball spot on the replay of his unfortunate shot that hit the flag stick and kicked in the water.  According to the rules Tiger should have placed his ball as close as possible to where his first shot was. 

He had three options and it looks as if he combined two options together which created  the rules violation.  The Masters Penalized him two shots before play began Saturday which is also the proper way to penalize anyone after the round is over.  The Masters had the option to disqualify him or penalize him.  Knowing  how the Masters organization runs itself I doubt if they were worried about Tiger not being in the final two rounds.  They have shown in the past that they could care less if the TV is there so whether Tiger is  playing Saturday and Sunday for TV ratings is not a Masters concern.

I am sure you like me have looked at every rules angle there is and I see that the Masters followed the rules of golf in penalizing Tiger before Saturday's round.  Whether Tiger was there or not I would have been glued to the TV watching who ever wins.  It is true the Masters is like no other and only if I could go just once.