Golf. Does Anyone Know Of A Link To The Bbc Commentary Team At Augusta, To Ask A Question About Yesterdays Play? I've Tried A Few Searches But Can't Find Anything. This Is The Question I Want To Ask:

[10ClarionSt]

On the 15th hole in the second round at Augusta yesterday, Ricky Fowler hit his second shot over the green and into the pond at the back. Having been a golf club official and involved with golf for many years, I would have said this was a lost ball, which incurs the rule involving stroke and distance, ie, he should have played another ball from a spot as near as possible to where he played his last shot from. Imagine my surprise to see him play from a spot at the back of the green, NEARER to the hole from where his ball was lost. Surely this a breach of the rules? Any other golfers out there with thoughts on this?

[angie55]

The ball isn't lost is it, it's in the water. It's just declared unplayable. I agree that normally you'd play from the same place again or at least play a provisional. Maybe Augusta has some local rule.

[Zacs-Master]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/4972592.stm

Ken Brown is on twitter @kenbrowngolf

[Cloverjo]

Please don't be like the pedantic man recently who emailed the golf organisers where a woman apparently replaced her ball a centimetre away from its correct position.

[angie55]

It wasn't the viewers fault. The golfer replaced the ball in the wrong place, therefore it's a penalty. Whether she did it accidentally or on purpose, it's still in the rules of golf and the penalty is correct.

[angie55]

I know the player can't drop the ball nearer the hole, that's why I said there is probably a local rule which includes a specified drop zone.

[Flonska]

Both in amateur and professional golf, "local" rules may apply either to a course or to a specific competition/event. The pond at the rear of the 15th hole at Augusta (Firethorn) is, I believe, the main feature of the 16th hole (Rosebud). If this is defined as a "lateral" water hazard (red line/stakes), the player, in addition to the options for a ball in a water hazard, under penalty of one stroke, may drop within two club-lengths of, and not nearer the hole than the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard. Perhaps, Rickie Fowler may have exercised this option to play back to the 15th?