PACIFIC PALISADES – The world according to Jim, Good Walk Spoiled edition:
• Yes, a rule is a rule. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it makes sense as conditions change.
Jordan Spieth was on the business end of one of those rules at the end of Friday’s second round of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera. He’d come off the course fuming after a double-bogey on 18, which put him at 2-over for the day and 3-under for the tournament. Not great, not when you’re 10 shots off the lead, but he was assured of playing the weekend and a chance to work his way up the leaderboard.
Then he wasn’t. Spieth was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard, which had a 3 on the par-3 third hole when he’d actually scored a 4. He explained later, in a post on The Platform Formerly Known As Twitter, “I signed for an incorrect scorecard and stepped out of the scoring area, after thinking I went through all procedures to make sure it was correct. Rules are rules, and I take full responsibility. I love this tournament and golf course as much as any on (the Tour) so it hurts to not have a run at the weekend.” …
• There really are two sides to this. There is the traditionalist viewpoint, which is that the same set of rules applies whether you’re playing a recreational round with friends or playing at the game’s highest level with the scrutiny – and scorekeeping equipment – that comes with it. Holding the professionals to the same standard not only sets an example of integrity, but it honors the game’s roots.
But then there’s the other side. We are in an era where not only is every shot recorded and measured, but the PGA Tour’s “ShotLink” technology puts not only the number of shots but their length and location at the touch of one’s smart phone. Given those tools, isn’t the ritual of having your opponent mark your scorecard after each hole kind of, you know, horse-and-buggyish? …
• Rory McIlroy, maybe the most thoughtful and…
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