News

Tiger Woods avoids penalty at Hero World Challenge

Published

7 years ago

Nov 30, 2018

5-under through 17 holes in his second round at the Hero World Challenge, Tiger Woods was sailing along nicely until his drive at Albany’s 18th, well, sailed right and wound up beneath a bush in the native area.

After considering his options, Woods, from his knees, attempted a quick swat at the ball with an iron. The good news: Woods extricated himself from the trouble. The bad news: Woods’ rules trouble was only beginning.

First, have a look at the shot here, via PGATour.com on Twitter.

"Did he hit the ball twice?"

It's been determined there's no penalty for Tiger Woods on the 18th hole. pic.twitter.com/xMCUAnBkcB

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 30, 2018

As you can see, and as the coverage team suggests, the ball appeared to stay on the club face for an extended period of time. If Woods “pushed, scraped or spooned the ball” he violated Rule 14-1 (a two-stroke penalty).

Secondarily, some questioned whether Woods struck the ball twice in the course of freeing it from the native area, a violation of Rule 14-4 (which is still in effect until the 2019 revision goes into effect).

When Woods entered the scorer’s tent, he was asked to review footage of the incident in conjunction with Tour Officials.

(via PGA Tour on Twitter)

Ultimately, as PGA Tour Rules Official Mark Russell told Golf Channel, Woods wasn’t assessed a penalty, it seems, because all parties believed he intended to make a legal strike. Further, as a double-hit couldn’t be determined by the naked eye, and per the 2017 rule limited the power of later video evidence, Woods was cleared of a breach of Rule 14-4.

Russell cited Decision 18/4 , which states “a player’s determination that the ball has not moved will be deemed to be conclusive, even if that determination is later shown to be incorrect through the use of sophisticated technology.”

He added the following later, via Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard on Twitter

Tour rules official Mark Russell on Tiger Woods’ ruling on the 18th hole at the Hero World Challenge. pic.twitter.com/4eBW1wSpis

— Rex Hoggard (@RexHoggardGC) November 30, 2018

For his part, Woods has this to say to Golf Channel’s Steve Sands

“First of all, I didn’t feel like I violated any rules. I felt like I was trying to play a shot. But the rules committee pulled me aside and said ‘Hey, there may be a violation there’ so we took a look at it. I didn’t feel like I hit it twice, it happened so fast and it was such a short motion, but under high def and super slow-mo, you can see it. I made contact twice, but there was no, they’ll explain it to you. There is no violation, I guess, so I shot what I shot today.”

What he shot — after an 18th hole double bogey — was a 3-under 69. Through two rounds, he sits at 2 under, eight strokes behind leader Jon Rahm and tied for 15th in the field of 18.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

39 Comments

Darryl

Dec 5, 2018 at 6:38 am

What I love is that the raking story has had zero coverage on the home page here. If Eldrick had hit a 290 yard baby fade out of a pot bunker to a tight cut pin with a 6 iron, all top 5 stories would be about it, three days later, even if he still only finished 17 of 18. But since the actual story doesn’t depict him as Jeebus on a flaming bun, all is quiet.

Reply Report comment
Tom

Dec 4, 2018 at 3:15 pm

He has impeccable character and honesty, just ask Elin or Lindsey. lol!

Reply Report comment
Kelly Gallagher

Dec 3, 2018 at 11:42 pm

All players can feel the difference between pushing the ball away and hitting it. I wish just once he would admit to doing something wrong. But I’m sure that will never happen. He showed with all his lying and cheating he has no morals. Yes he is one great golfer. But that is where it ends.

Reply Report comment
Bob Jones

Dec 3, 2018 at 8:34 pm

They said he wasn’t assessed a penalty because he was intending to make a legal strike.

I was intending to hit my ball in bounds, so I shouldn’t have to take a penalty because I missed.

Reply Report comment
Bob Jones

Dec 3, 2018 at 8:33 pm

They said he wasn’t assessed a penalty because he was intending to make a legal strike.

Well, I was intending to hit my ball in bounds, so I shouldn’t have to take a penalty because I missed.

Reply Report comment
Dave r

Dec 3, 2018 at 12:37 pm

Who cares he finished 17th out of 18 players. And yes he hit it twice and then proceeded to rake it out, the call was up to him to make and as usual he did not , can’t recall him ever calling himself on anything it must be great to be so perfect.

Reply Report comment
- Tartan Golf Travel
  
  Dec 3, 2018 at 3:45 pm
  
  Correct. In 20 years on tour he had never called a penalty on himself. In fact he has argued vehemently when visual proof has been shown to him.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Kelly Gallagher
  
  Dec 3, 2018 at 11:32 pm
  
  Yes he did push it out. One of many things he has been caught at. He just won’t admit it. Liar,Liar.
  
  Reply Report comment
Ron

Dec 3, 2018 at 11:41 am

All these comments on here about Woods cheating….The determination was made by the officials, not Tiger.

Reply Report comment
- Jack Nash
  
  Dec 3, 2018 at 12:01 pm
  
  It was Tigers Tourney, I’m sure they’ll penalize him. Kinda like years ago at the Masters where he “wasn’t” penalized for an obvious infraction on 15 with the “yellow” staked area.
  
  Reply Report comment
CJ

Dec 3, 2018 at 11:15 am

I believe he got away with a clear penalty. Not on purpose but its still a penalty regardless

Reply Report comment
Tartan Golf Travel

Dec 3, 2018 at 8:19 am

It’s obvious he cheated and it’s certainly Not his first time. Sad to see especially in a hit and giggle.

Reply Report comment
Tony

Dec 3, 2018 at 1:13 am

In my opinion (and as an experienced trial lawyer and long-term golfer I think I bring to bear objectivity and experience) it was a two-stroke penalty for a breach of Rule 14.1.a, which provides that “The ball must be fairly struck at with the head of the club and must not be pushed, scraped or spooned.” The fact that it was also a double hit (as determined on slow motion television) compounds the offence.

Any experienced golfer who has been in that position will know when the ball has been scraped or spooned. I can recall several occasions when I have been against a tree with limited backswing and I have genuinely attempted to strike the ball but it has stayed on the clubface resulting in a scrape or spoon. I have always felt it and penalised myself.

Ruling 14.1.a/4 provides, inter-alia, as follows: “It is possible to strike a ball fairly with a half inch backswing. However, in most such cases the player would be pushing the ball, contrary to Rule 14-1a. In the absence of strong evidence to the contrary, it should be ruled that the player has pushed the ball. In order to strike the ball fairly, it must be swung at with the clubhead. If the ball is moved by any other method, it has been pushed, scraped or spooned. If a ball is fairly struck at, there is only momentary contact between the clubhead and the ball or whatever intervenes between the clubhead and the ball.”

I note part of Mark Russell’s explanation that you could see the “club [sic-ball] stay on the clubface quite a bit of time”. Why, then, did they not have reference to Ruling 14.1.a/4 — the contact was not momentary and the ball was pushed, scraped or spooned.

Admittedly the backswing was more than half an inch – but it was only a few inches, and the ball was in sand. The fact that Tiger genuinely attempted to strike the ball is irrelevant. If the motion was a push, scrape or scoop there is a two shot penalty. A compelling piece of evidence against the “first strike” finding by the PGA officials is the fact that, in the motion, Tiger turns his wrist to hood the toe of the club to scrape it in the right direction. Also, I don’t believe a fair strike with such a limited backswing, with the ball in sand, would ever have resulted in the ball travelling as far as it did.

Finally, all of those who say get over it because the rule changes next year are missing the point that rule 14.1 does not change and has nothing to do with double hits. It is Rule 14.4 which will change from January.

Reply Report comment
b

Dec 2, 2018 at 3:36 pm

Woods purposely RAKED the ball with the clubface!!!

It was raking just like you would use to rake leaves or rake anything by keeping the object you are trying to move on the clubface or head of the stick.

If Woods at made a strike (in lieu of a raking motion) the ball would have compressed and bounced (sprung) off the clubface instead of remaining on the clubface as it was raked.

It was definitely a PENALTY that Woods got away with. BIG TIME BAD RULING!!!

Reply Report comment
- geohogan
  
  Dec 3, 2018 at 10:10 am
  
  Ball clubface contact is 5, 10, 000 th of a second
  
  Clearly , in real time, without stop action camera, Tiger raked the ball.
  
  If Woods “pushed, scraped or spooned the ball” he violated Rule 14-1 (a two-stroke penalty).
  
  Reply Report comment
Bert Gwaltney

Dec 2, 2018 at 10:42 am

1″ back swung usually doesn’t produce a 3′ follow-through, yes he was trying to get the ball out and into the grass, past the sand area. Certainly looks like a swoop and not a normal hit, but he said he make a stroke at the ball, and didn’t believe he hit it twice. OK, but maybe when he viewed the shot on camera, he might have thought of calling the penalty on himself. “I saw the ball move” seems to remember a great amateur making that comment.

in 2019, golfers will Intentionally strike the ball twice, perhaps with the putter and claim, it wasn’t intentional. This is why a rule for double-strike was put into the Rules of Golf in the first place. A putt that might come up a little short on slow greens could be made with a long follow-through.

Reply Report comment
Tom

Dec 1, 2018 at 11:33 pm

Cheetah

Reply Report comment
Johnny Penso

Dec 1, 2018 at 9:34 pm

You’re in 15th place out of 18. One would think that legacy would triumph personal reward at an event that is almost entirely meaningless within Tigers’ career.

Reply Report comment
RulesCop

Dec 1, 2018 at 8:04 pm

There are golf pros and there are true, iconic, consummate sports heros. I can’t imagine Arnie, Jack or Jones not owning up to a rules breach, but not Eldrick. That’s yet another reason why Eldrick will never be in their league no matter which and how many wins. You have to have the whole package to qualify……performance and integrity.

Reply Report comment
- TWE
  
  Dec 3, 2018 at 12:05 pm
  
  Ummmm…..please don’t make statements when you don’t know the facts…..Palmer won his first Master after he insisted on playing two balls because he did not get the ruling he desired on an embedded ball rule. I love Arnie, but please don’t spew garbage.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Peter McGill
    
    Dec 4, 2018 at 5:38 am
    
    You’re allowed to play a second ball in those circumstances. Apples and oranges.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Kelly Gallagher
  
  Dec 3, 2018 at 11:38 pm
  
  Rules Cop you are so bang on. He has no class and that has shone through for years. The greats would have put their hand up and said yes I did that. And taken their penalty. Not him. I don’t care how many wins or majors he has. Just cause you can golf does not make you a stand up person.
  
  Reply Report comment
Nack Jicklaus

Dec 1, 2018 at 4:59 pm

I rake my balls too.

Reply Report comment
Rich Douglas

Dec 1, 2018 at 1:54 pm

SCRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPE!

This isn’t even close, and it doesn’t require high-def replay to discern it. (Lame excuse, Tour officials!)

How is that any different than swiping away someone’s gimme putt? He used the exact same method you’d use to pull the ball out of there so you could drop it.

Another example of Tiger being Tiger and the Tour being his best friend.

Reply Report comment
- Speedy
  
  Dec 1, 2018 at 4:20 pm
  
  I agree, Rich.
  
  Reply Report comment
RulesCop

Dec 1, 2018 at 1:50 pm

Double hits aside, it was obvious, even a normal speed, that he raked it out. That is a penalty in any year. Shame on Tour officials and so much for Woods ‘integrity’ setting an example for the 1st tee kidz.

Reply Report comment
David

Dec 1, 2018 at 12:57 pm

ANOTHER example of Woods CHEATING again…
There’s no way in this world anyone can make a pulling motion to the ball with no back swing without double touching/ball sticking on the club face .. and Woods KNOWS that.
He also KNEW immediately he’d double touched. Anyone else would have called it on himself but not Woods… it shows his total lack of honesty.
Anyone that’s ever played golf know exactly when they’ve double hit … anyone reading this and feels differently has never played golf.
And that they let him off without penalty is utterly RIDICULOUS … anyone other than Woods would DEFINITELY have received a penalty.

Reply Report comment
S&TisKing

Dec 1, 2018 at 11:32 am

That wasn’t a swing, that was a swipe!!!

Reply Report comment
Andrew Wainer

Dec 1, 2018 at 6:00 am

He “scoop/spooned” it

Reply Report comment
DONNIE GRAY

Dec 1, 2018 at 12:06 am

PGA STOOPED TO A NEW LEVEL,DRIVING WITH 4 DIFFERENT PRESCRIPTION IN SYSTEM, ONLY 2 HE HAD PRESCRIPTIONS FOR[NO REPERCUSSIONS FROM TOUR],REMEMBER WHEN THEY SUPENDED DALY FOR THE HOOTERS INCIDENT HE ADMITTED HE HIT IT TWICE AND THE NEW RULES ARE NOT INFECT TILL JANUARY IN HIS CAREER HOW MANY FAVORABLE CALLS HAS HE RECEIVED IN HIS CAREER

Reply Report comment
Lovejoy

Nov 30, 2018 at 9:52 pm

A player admits to a double hit having seen the evidence and does not call a penalty on himself?

CHEAT

Reply Report comment
- Scheiss
  
  Dec 1, 2018 at 11:16 am
  
  Exactly. Signed for wrong score, therefore DQ
  
  Reply Report comment
He Who Remembers

Nov 30, 2018 at 9:05 pm

Yeah, this kind of stuff reminds me of the EXTRA favorable drop Woods received at the Players Championship……got away with that one too. It took a call from a distinguished senior tour player to make the officials rule Tiger made an illegal drop at The Masters. Cmon, how many time does the tour have to roll over for this guy.

Reply Report comment
BF

Nov 30, 2018 at 5:42 pm

If they were playing under the new 2019 rules, which I know they aren’t, isn’t there no penalty for hitting it twice if it’s unintentional?

Reply Report comment
- Bubbert
  
  Dec 1, 2018 at 8:33 am
  
  In the new 2019 rules, there is no penalty for unintentionally hitting the ball twice.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Rich Douglas
  
  Dec 1, 2018 at 1:56 pm
  
  This wasn’t a case of “hitting it twice” with one swing. This was a scrape. He yanked the ball out of there, not using a clean hit. That is a penalty now, and it will be a penalty in 2019.
  
  Reply Report comment
dat

Nov 30, 2018 at 5:37 pm

Certainly didn’t look like a double hit or a scoop to me in real time. Slo-mo is deceptive and irrelevant here. Officials made the right call.

Reply Report comment
Brian McGrnahan

Nov 30, 2018 at 4:42 pm

Its obvious the ball was compressed on the clubface.

Reply Report comment
Tom

Nov 30, 2018 at 4:38 pm

Ray Lewis told him to say “I didn’t see nuttin!”

Reply Report comment

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