Even monkeys sometimes fall from trees.
This is the story of Colin Morikawa (USA), ranked 14th in the world. It was revealed that he violated the rules in the third round of the PGA Tour's 'special event' Hero World Challenge held at the Albany Golf Course in New Providence, Bahamas on the 2nd. The situation is like this. PGA Tour referee Stephen Cox received a tip that Morikawa violated the rules during the third round of the tournament. An investigation into Morikawa and his caddy just before the start of the final 4th round was found to be true, and a 2-stroke penalty was imposed.
Morikawa violated the ban on using measuring equipment to determine greens introduced last year. This rule allows players or caddies to write down and utilize information gained through experience and observation in a yardage book containing course information. However, information obtained through the equipment cannot be entered at all. The yardage book that Morikawa's caddy had contained green information obtained using a level during practice.
Referee Chairman Cox said, "It is permissible to check the slope of the green with a level during practice, but if you write down what you have figured out in a yardage book and look at it during the game, it is against the rules." He added, "It is a rule that players and caddies can break without realizing it." “He explained. “We made a mistake, and it was all my fault,” Morikawa said. “I’m glad there was only one violation of the rules.” He finished the competition in 7th place, reducing 4 strokes on the final day.
The Royal Golf Association (R&A) and the United States 밤떡 Golf Association (USGA) are working hard to shorten golf playing time. This is an effort to secure the popularity of golf. We simplified the rules and focused on speeding up. These include a shot time of 40 seconds or less, a maximum of 3 minutes to find a lost ball, putting allowed while the flagstick is in place, and players using range finders. Instead, yardage books that record the slope of each green were prohibited. The idea is to understand the slope of the green, how fast it is, etc. only by seeing and feeling.
The R&A and USGA strengthened the ban on yardage books in 2022. Unapproved items cannot be used. It cannot contain information obtained in an unauthorized manner. There is no material available to help you read the line of play on the green. This prohibits the use of advanced electronic equipment. If you violate the rules once, you will be penalized 2 strokes, and if you violate the rules twice, you will be disqualified.
Morikawa, who violated the yardage book this time, is a talented golfer representing the PGA Tour. He was ranked No. 1 in the world amateur rankings in 2018, turned pro in 2019 and immediately recorded his first win at the Baracuda Championships in July. He boasted of his consistency of ‘advanced to the finals of 22 consecutive competitions’ until here RBC Heritage in June 2020. He won two majors at the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2012 Open, and recorded his sixth career win on the PGA Tour at the Zozo Championship last October.