2020 has been a year unlike any other, but some things just don’t change, and in the world of golf, that is rules controversies.

Despite a year that saw changes galore, the common fixture of rules mishaps remained prominent throughout 2020, and here we’ll highlight some of the biggest rules controversies that got golf fans talking.

Bryson’s Rant

Bryson DeChambeau was everywhere in 2020, so it’s no surprise he was involved in a rules dispute at the Memorial Tournament. 

DeChambeau twice hit the ball OB on the 15th hole during round two but was adamant that one was not OB but rather underneath the fence. Rules official Slugger White stepped in to explain to DeChambeau why it was indeed OB, and it was a decision the golf scientist was clearly unhappy about, requesting a second opinion before saying “They are giving me a garbage ruling as usual.”

Bryson: “You are kidding me? Can I get a second ruling please?”

*Rules official turns away and smirks*pic.twitter.com/ZnaNk175ca

— Josh Berhow (@Josh_Berhow) July 17, 2020

The ruling was upheld and Bryson went on to make a 10 on the hole.

Mini-tour Chaos

While the PGA Tour was out of action, there was the Outlaw Tour for golf junkies to follow, and it was the home of a chaotic incident that saw 14 DQ’s. 

Those 14 players were hit with DQ’s during round one after playing from the wrong set of tees on one hole – despite the 14-men playing from a distance longer than they should have. 

Amid the controversy, tournament director Jesse Burghart released a statement on Facebook where he defiantly stuck by his decision to disqualify the 14 players – while also raising eyebrows with his ‘Sheriff Out‘ sign-off.

Caddie Costs Kid

At the U.S. Amateur at Bandon Dunes a rare and cruel ruling on the final hole put paid to Segundo Oliva Pinto’s chances in his last 16 match against Tyler Strafaci. 

While all tied up on the final hole and assessing where to land his third shot, Oliva Pinto’s caddie, touched the sand with his hand which was deemed to have been testing the conditions of the bunker. The caddie denied it, but the evidence was clear…

…and the hole concession cost Pinto the match.

Antgate

At the 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Bryson DeChambeau found himself in the pine straw, where things got…interesting.

The 26-year-old called for an official and plead his case believing he was entitled to relief because there were fire ants and an animal hole near his ball. The conversation that followed between Bryson and the official was unsurprisingly a thing of beauty.

Guys Dechambeau tried to get a free drop because there was a fire ant hole next to his ball ???pic.twitter.com/vLvO91fBg4

— DailySportsDosage (@SportsDsd) July 31, 2020

He made his case, but it didn’t fly with the official, and no relief was given.

Lexi Escapes

At the Women’s British Open this year, Lexi Thompson avoided a penalty after seemingly trying to move away a tuft of grass from her ball using her club, something which didn’t sit well with golf fans on social media.

Literally just turned on the coverage of Women’s Open Championship to see this ?@mikeclaytongolf @GeoffShac @Rod_Morri pic.twitter.com/HQe4OFLh7T

— Rob Williamson (@Yeti2319) August 21, 2020

Why was no penalty assessed? Well, the R&A explained the following day that: “although the player had moved a growing natural object behind her ball, it had returned to its original position. Therefore, the lie of the ball was not improved and there was no breach of Rule 8.1.”

Pepperell’s Scorecard DQ

Eddie Pepperell made it DQ number two inside a four-month stretch, after signing for the correct overall score – 71 – but with certain holes scored incorrectly. The Englishman stated afterwards that his partner had marked him down for a five on one hole where he had taken six, and four on another when he had made three.

Not one to mince his words, Pepperell called his DQ “a fair distance away from common sense.”

The Great Wall of Dinah

At this year’s ANA Inspiration, a temporary fencing was placed behind the 18th green to replicate what players would see when the tournament was played typically with fans. Many fans questioned the decision at the time, and by Sunday evening ‘The Great Wall of Dinah’ had become one of the biggest controversies of 2020.

Players deliberately used the structure as a backstop throughout the event, and it was Mirim Lee who saw the benefits after smashing her second shot into the structure (which otherwise would have gone into the water) and chipped in from where the ball subsequently landed for eagle to earn a playoff spot.

Should the structure not have been there, Nelly Korda likely wins her first major. Instead, Korda suffered a heartbreaking defeat, and Lee was the one to take home her maiden major title, leaving many golf fans with a sour taste in their mouths.

What did we miss, GolfWRXers? Let us know in the comments.