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USGA, R&A release clarification on controversial caddie alignment rule

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7 years ago

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After high profile rulings in recent weeks, the USGA and R&A have been forced to make clear Rule 10.2b(4) which in the recent modernization of the rules, aimed to prevent caddie alignment of players.

On Wednesday, in a joint statement, the organizations stated

“The purpose of Rule 10.2 is to reinforce the fundamental challenge of making a stroke and to limit the advice and other help a player may receive during a round. Rule 10.2b(4) ensures that aiming at the intended target is a challenge that the player must overcome alone.”

In Dubai last month, Haotong Li fell foul of the rule while lining up a putt on the 18th green, and at last week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, Denny McCarthy was penalized under rule 10.2b, after his caddie aligned him prior to an approach shot. That penalty was later rescinded as McCarthy had backed off to reset after his caddie had aligned him, and in future, resetting will prevent any potential punishment.

The USGA and R&A’s clarifications:

  • Meaning of “Begins Taking a Stance for the Stroke”: If a player backs away from a stance, the player is not considered to have begun “a stance for the stroke.” Therefore, a player can now back away from his or her stance anywhere on the course and avoid a breach of Rule 10.2b(4) if the caddie had been standing in a location behind the ball.
  • Examples of When a Caddie is Not “Deliberately” Standing Behind the Ball When a Player Begins Taking Stance for Stroke: As written, the Rule does not apply if a caddie is not deliberately standing behind a player. It is clarified that the term “deliberately” requires a caddie to be aware that 1) the player is beginning to take a stance for the stroke to be played and 2) he or she (the caddie) is standing on or close to an extension of the line of play behind the ball.

Several examples are given in the clarification to provide additional guidance.

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at gianni@golfwrx.com.

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. David Mattner

    Feb 7, 2019 at 6:43 pm

    I would think the role of a caddie is to discuss the players swing, alignment during and after a game of golf. If i was a caddie i would expect tostand behind the player when they are hitting the shot to provide feedback AFTER the swing has been completed. During the round i might say the golfer is aiming slightly right and the player can make adjustments. I just assumed that what players and caddies discuss during a round. Or the caddie may provide feedbacl to the coach about any number of things inc alignment. But that doesnt mean i will be aligning the player during the stroke. Its a gre yarea and i can’t help but think how many meetings there have been to discuss rule changes to only have a grey area like this. frustrating.

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  2. Leftshot

    Feb 7, 2019 at 11:13 am

    This rule doesn’t affect most of us. We don’t have caddies! For the pros, there are 7 ways from Sunday toprkvide alignment help without breaking the new rule as clarified. The caddie could align the player, the player presses down with his feet leaving an indentation, backs away, then resets with his caddie now to his side. The caddie could pick out two points on the tee box and say put your toes here, then pull away. There are many possibilities and it seems the rule-making bodies haven’t thought of any of them, or thinks golfers are too dumb to come up with them.

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  3. Regis

    Feb 7, 2019 at 10:49 am

    Every new rule in golf or in everyday life is a result of people seeking unfair advantage. There are golfers who travel with a caddie, a swing coach, a nutritionist, and a fitness coach all with the purpose of executing a golf swing at a critical time. The new rule was put in to curb abuses and everybody saw those abuses drawing criticism from avid golfers and fans. The initial rulings may at first be misapplied but it will eventually find a level of reasonable interpretation. That’s the nature of new rules

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  4. mark

    Feb 7, 2019 at 9:50 am

    What is so difficult? The player and caddie stand behind the ball, look/discuss what the line or aim point is. The caddie moves, the player approaches his/her ball, sets up. and swings.

    Reply Report comment

  5. Rory O Donnell

    Feb 7, 2019 at 2:33 am

    What about blind people who need assistance lining up there shots.

    Reply Report comment

  6. Charles Cartwright

    Feb 6, 2019 at 7:01 pm

    This could easily be clarified just to say the caddie may not be on the line of the stroke when the club is behind the ball.

    No more interpretation. Problem solved.

    Reply Report comment

  7. HKO

    Feb 6, 2019 at 6:56 pm

    soon PGA becoming like NFL—marshals stop game every 2 mins to discuss who did what. ads come in.

    Reply Report comment

  8. Dave

    Feb 6, 2019 at 6:47 pm

    This is still the worse written rule ever. The wording including “advice and other help” “aiming” leaves so much open to interpretation. E.g. cadie Behind player says take it off the right trap. They have assisted in aiming. I thought the pro elm was they wanted to illuminate caddies assisting in alignment. So just say that in the purpose. Is this the first time these guys wrote a rule or policy

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  9. Tom

    Feb 6, 2019 at 5:48 pm

    USGA has let equipment (ball) get completely out of hand…now stupid rules like dropping a knee height, grounding clubs in hazards….what’s next, dog and cats playing together???

    Reply Report comment

    • 15th Club

      Feb 6, 2019 at 6:33 pm

      Lol.

      Can I tell you about all of the GolfWRX members who hate the USGA, because of the threat that there might be a ball rollback? And who sneered at the Rules enforcement against a player whose club barely brushed the sand on takeaway in a fairway bunker?

      The drop rule is so simple. Lower your arm to hold the ball just above your knee and drop it. The new rule lessens the likelihood that a re-drop may be needed.

      I read the anti-USGA comments and just shake my head.

      Reply Report comment

      • James

        Feb 7, 2019 at 2:31 am

        Yes, because moving five to ten grains of sand is something you (or I) as a player can feel. Clear -intent- of improving her lie there in that instance.

        It’s not that (some) of us sneer at the rules, we sneer at the stupidity with which they’re applied. (See: USGA over-ruling their own rule about ref’s assigned to a group having the final say about DJ moving the ball *forward* by touching the ground *behind* the ball)

        Reply Report comment

  10. Greg V

    Feb 6, 2019 at 3:47 pm

    Right, so we get the caddy standing behind his player problem fixed.

    Now, go back to the old rule about leaving the pin in- can’t do it on the putting green – for elite players. Elite players: you know who you are.

    And, btw, if you want elite players to play faster, enforce time limits.

    Reply Report comment

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